1 ½cupschopped carrotsfrom about 3 carrots or 18 baby carrots
2tspminced garlic
1cupred wineor use more broth
3cupsbeef brothplus more as needed
2 ½cupscubed potatoesabout 2 medium potatoes
1tbspminced fresh thyme or 1 tsp dried
1cupfrozen peas
1tbspminced fresh parsley or 1 tsp dried
3tbspbutter
3tbspall-purpose flour
Instructions
Brown the Beef
Heat 1 tbsp olive oil in a large Dutch oven over medium-high heat. Season the beef with 1 tsp salt and the pepper. Sear in batches until browned on all sides, adding more oil as needed. Transfer to a bowl and set aside.
Sauté the Vegetables
Add remaining oil to the pot. Cook onion, carrots, and 1 tsp salt over medium heat until softened, about 7 minutes. Stir in the garlic and cook 1 minute more.
Deglaze and Simmer
Pour in the red wine and scrape up the browned bits. Return the beef and any juices to the pot. Add the broth and thyme. Bring to a boil, then reduce heat to low, cover, and simmer for 1 hour.
Add Potatoes
Stir in the potatoes. Simmer uncovered for another 30–40 minutes, until the beef and potatoes are very tender.
Make the Gravy Base
In a separate saucepan, melt the butter over medium heat. Whisk in the flour and cook for 2–3 minutes, until golden and nutty-smelling. Ladle about 2 cups of broth from the stew (avoid scooping solids), and slowly whisk it into the roux. Simmer until smooth and thickened.
Combine and Finish
Pour the gravy mixture back into the Dutch oven and stir to combine. Add the peas, parsley, and remaining ½ tsp salt. Simmer for 5 more minutes, then taste and adjust seasoning if needed.
Notes
For best flavor, brown the beef in batches without overcrowding the pot.If you don’t have red wine, extra beef broth works well as a substitute.Leftovers taste even better the next day. Store covered in the fridge for up to 4 days.Stew can be frozen but the potatoes may lose their texture a little bit.