Hearty Beef Stew with Fluffy Dumplings Recipe
A comforting classic Beef Stew with tender chunks of beef and hearty vegetables simmered in a rich broth, served with soft, fluffy dumplings steamed on top. This dish is perfect for a cozy meal, combining the deep flavors of slow-cooked stew with light, pillowy dumplings.
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 2 hours 20 minutes
- Total Time: 2 hours 40 minutes
- Yield: 6 servings 1x
- Category: Main Course
- Method: Stovetop
- Cuisine: American
Ingredients
Scale
For the Beef Stew
- 2 lbs beef chuck, cut into 1-inch cubes
- 3 cups beef broth
- 2 large carrots, peeled and sliced
- 2 celery stalks, sliced
- 1 large onion, chopped
- 3 cloves garlic, minced
- 2 tablespoons vegetable oil
- 2 tablespoons tomato paste
- 1 teaspoon dried thyme
- 1 teaspoon dried rosemary
- Salt and pepper to taste
- 2 tablespoons all-purpose flour (for coating beef)
For the Dumplings
- 1 cup all-purpose flour
- 2 teaspoons baking powder
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 2 tablespoons cold butter, cut into small pieces
- 2/3 cup milk
Instructions
- Prepare the beef: Pat the beef cubes dry and toss them with 2 tablespoons of flour until evenly coated. This helps create a thicker stew base.
- Sear the beef: Heat vegetable oil in a large pot or Dutch oven over medium-high heat. Brown the beef cubes in batches until all sides are nicely seared. Remove the beef and set aside.
- Sauté the vegetables: In the same pot, add chopped onion, carrots, celery, and garlic. Cook for about 5 minutes until softened and fragrant.
- Add tomato paste and herbs: Stir in tomato paste, thyme, and rosemary, cooking for another minute to enhance the flavors.
- Simmer the stew: Return seared beef to the pot and pour in beef broth. Bring to a boil, then reduce heat and simmer uncovered for about 1.5 to 2 hours, or until beef is tender and stew thickens. Season with salt and pepper to taste.
- Make the dumpling dough: In a bowl, combine flour, baking powder, and salt. Cut in cold butter until mixture resembles coarse crumbs. Stir in milk until just combined; do not overmix.
- Add dumplings to the stew: Drop spoonfuls of dumpling batter evenly over the simmering stew. Cover the pot tightly with a lid.
- Steam dumplings: Cook for 15-20 minutes without lifting the lid to allow the dumplings to steam and cook through until they are fluffy and cooked inside.
- Serve: Spoon stew and dumplings into bowls and enjoy warm as a hearty and comforting meal.
Notes
- For extra flavor, marinate the beef overnight in a little Worcestershire sauce and garlic before cooking.
- You can substitute fresh herbs instead of dried if preferred, using about three times the amount.
- To make the dumplings lighter, avoid overmixing and handle the dough gently.
- Leftover stew can be refrigerated and tastes even better the next day as flavors meld.
Keywords: beef stew, dumplings, comfort food, stew recipe, hearty meal, slow-cooked beef, steamed dumplings
