Beef Stew with Root Vegetables & Horseradish

By gvcathy

This beef stew recipe may take a while, but it is worth the effort. By browning the beef, deglazing the pan with wine and blend of spices and vegetables, this will become your go-to stew recipe!

Ingredients

• 3 pound boneless beef shoulder roast, chuck roast, or top blade, trimmed of excess fat and cut into 1-1/2- to 2-inch pieces
• 2 ounces thick-cut bacon, cut into 1/2-inch pieces
• 1 tablespoon grapeseed oil or vegetable oil; more as needed
• Kosher salt and freshly ground pepper
• 1 medium yellow onion, coarsely chopped, about 1 cup
• 2 medium celery stalks, coarsely chopped, about 1/2 cup
• 1 medium carrot, coarsely chopped, about 1/3 cup
• 3 medium cloves garlic, minced
• 1 tablespoon minced fresh sage
• 1 cup dry red wine
• 2 1/2 cups homemade or lower-salt store-bought beef broth
• 2 cups parsnip pieces (halve lengthwise, core, and cut into 1-inch pieces)
• 2 cups carrot, cut into 1-inch pieces
• 2 cups small red potatoes, cut in half
• 1/4 cup chopped fresh flat-leaf parsley
• 2 tablespoons drained prepared horseradish

Preparation

Step 1

Position a rack in the bottom third of the oven and heat the oven to 325°F.

In a 6-quart Dutch oven or other heavy-duty pot, cook the bacon in the oil over medium heat, stirring occasionally, until browned but not crisp, 6 to 8 minutes. Using a slotted spoon, transfer to a paper-towel-lined plate and set aside. Do not wipe out the pan.

Heat the bacon fat over medium to medium-high heat until shimmering hot. Season about one-third of the beef with salt and pepper and arrange it in a single layer in the pot (there should be at least 1/2 inch of space between the pieces). Brown well on at least 4 sides, adjusting the heat as necessary; each batch should take about 10 minutes to brown. Transfer the beef to a large bowl or rimmed baking sheet as it browns and repeat with the rest of the beef, seasoning with salt and pepper before browning. Once all of the beef is browned, remove the pot from the heat to let it cool for a few minutes.

Pour all but 2 tablespoons of the fat from the pot. (If there is not enough, add oil to equal 2 tablespoons). Return the pot to medium heat, then add the onion, celery, and carrot. Season with a pinch of salt and pepper, and cook, stirring often and scraping the bottom of the pot with a wooden spatula, until the vegetables begin to soften, 5 to 6 minutes. Stir in the garlic and sage and cook, stirring occasionally, until fragrant, 1 to 2 minutes. Return the bacon to the pot.

Add the wine, stirring with the wooden spatula to dissolve any browned bits on the bottom of the pot. Raise the heat to medium high and boil to reduce by about half, 5 to 8 minutes.

Add the beef broth and 1-1/2 cups water. Bring to a boil.

Return the beef to the pot along with any accumulated juice. Lower the heat to maintain a simmer.

Crumple a 12x16-inch piece of parchment, then flatten it out. (Crumpling makes for easy handling.) Place the parchment directly on the surface of the stew, allowing the ends to come up the sides of the pot. Cover and put in the oven.

After 1 hour of stewing, add the parsnips, carrot pieces, and potatoes to the pot. Cover with the parchment and lid, and cook until the beef is fork-tender, 1 to 2 hours more. (Shoulder cuts will take longer than leg cuts.)

Stir in the parsley and horseradish. Degrease the stew by laying a clean paper towel over the surface of the stew and gently pushing it into all the bumps and dips, then quickly peeling it off. Repeat as necessary with more paper towels. Season to taste with salt and pepper and serve.

Make Ahead Tips

The stew can be made up to 2 days ahead: Skip the degreasing step, cool to room temperature, cover, and refrigerate. Once the stew is chilled, lift the solidified fat off the top with a slotted spoon. Reheat the stew over medium-low heat to serve.