Description
Rich, hearty, and soul-satisfying, this Cauldron Beef Stew Soup is the ultimate comfort food. A family recipe refined over generations, it’s packed with tender beef, rustic vegetables, and deep flavor that only gets better with time.
Ingredients
Scale
- 2 pounds beef chuck, cut into 1-inch cubes
- 3 tablespoons olive oil
- 2 large onions, roughly chopped
- 4 cloves garlic, minced
- 3 medium carrots, peeled and cut into chunks
- 3 celery stalks, sliced
- 2 medium potatoes, peeled and cubed
- 8 ounces mushrooms, quartered
- 1/4 cup tomato paste
- 4 cups beef broth (low-sodium preferred)
- 1 cup dry red wine (optional)
- 2 bay leaves
- 1 tablespoon fresh thyme leaves or 1 teaspoon dried
- 1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
- Salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste
- 2 tablespoons all-purpose flour (for coating beef)
Instructions
- Pat beef dry with paper towels. Season with salt and pepper, then toss in flour to coat lightly.
- Heat 2 tablespoons of oil in a Dutch oven over medium-high heat. Brown beef in batches. Set aside.
- Add remaining oil if needed. Sauté onions for 5 minutes, then garlic for 1 minute.
- Stir in tomato paste and cook for 2 minutes until slightly caramelized.
- Deglaze with red wine, scraping up browned bits. Simmer for 2-3 minutes.
- Return beef to pot. Add carrots, celery, potatoes, mushrooms, broth, bay leaves, thyme, and Worcestershire sauce. Stir to combine.
- Bring to a boil, reduce to low simmer, and cook partially covered for 2-2.5 hours until beef is fork-tender.
- Optional: Mix 1 tbsp cornstarch with 2 tbsp water and stir into stew for a thicker consistency.
- Remove bay leaves. Taste and adjust seasoning. Serve hot in deep bowls.
Notes
To make ahead, prepare up to 2 days in advance. For gluten-free, use cornstarch instead of flour. Red wine adds depth but can be replaced with more broth and a splash of balsamic vinegar.
- Prep Time: 30 minutes
- Cook Time: 2.5-3 hours
- Category: Soup
- Method: Stovetop
- Cuisine: American Comfort Food
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 bowl
- Calories: 390
- Sugar: 5g
- Sodium: 710mg
- Fat: 18g
- Saturated Fat: 6g
- Unsaturated Fat: 10g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 21g
- Fiber: 4g
- Protein: 32g
- Cholesterol: 85mg