Molly Oneill Beef Stew Recipes

BEEF STEW WITH FLUFFY PITA

Steps:

• Add the beef to a large mixing bowl. Season all over with 1 teaspoon salt and a generous amount of black pepper. Toss the beef in with 2 tablespoons of the flour to coat.
• Heat 2 tablespoons of olive oil in a large Dutch oven over medium heat. When the oil is hot, brown the beef on all sides, in batches, 4 to 6 minutes per batch. Remove the browned beef to a bowl and set aside.
• Add 1 tablespoon of olive oil into the pot. Add the onions and carrots. Stir to coat the vegetables in the oil and season with 1/2 teaspoon salt and a few grinds of pepper. Cook, stirring occasionally, until the onion begins to wilt, 4 to 6 minutes. Add the tomato paste and thyme and stir to coat the vegetables. Add the remaining flour and stir to combine. Let the flour toast for a minute, then pour in the wine. Bring to a boil over medium heat and cook until slightly thickened and reduced, 3 to 5 minutes. Add the beef stock and bay leaves and adjust the heat so the sauce is at a moderate simmer. Return the beef and juices to the pot. Cover and reduce to a simmer, stirring occasionally, until the beef is fork tender, 2 to 2 1/2 hours, removing the lid in the last 15 minutes to reduce the sauce.
• When the beef is almost done, heat a medium skillet over medium heat and add the remaining tablespoon of the olive oil. When the oil is hot, add the pearl onions, 1/4 teaspoon salt and a few grinds of pepper. Cook, tossing occasionally, until browned all over, 3 to 4 minutes. Add to the stew in the last 15 minutes of cooking,
• Remove and discard the bay leaves (and thyme stems if using sprigs). Serve and garnish with parsley leaves and pita on the side.
• In the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with a dough hook, mix together the water, yeast and sugar just to dissolve. Add the salt and oil, and then gradually add the flour. Increase the speed to medium-high and mix for 7 to 10 minutes, adding just enough additional flour so that the dough no longer sticks to the bowl. Do not add too much flour. The dough should be smooth and slightly sticky. Lightly coat a clean large bowl with oil or cooking spray and then place the dough in the bowl and turn it once or twice to coat it in oil. Cover the bowl with plastic wrap and let it rise at room temperature for 2 hours, or until it has doubled in size.
• Turn the dough onto a clean work surface and divide it into 8 equal pieces. Mold each piece into a ball by stretching the top and tucking the edges under. place the balls 1-inch apart on a piece of parchment paper, cover them with plastic wrap, and let them rise for 30 minutes.
• Set an oven rack in the middle position. Preheat the oven to 500 degrees F. Line two baking sheets with parchment.
• With a rolling pin, roll out the balls of dough into 6-inch circles. Place them on the baking sheets and bake for about 5 minutes, or until they're puffy and just starting to brown.

CLASSIC, HEARTY BEEF STEW

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C).
• Place beef cubes into a large bowl. Season with kosher salt and black pepper. Add flour and paprika and toss until evenly coated.
• Heat oil in an oven-safe Dutch oven over medium-high heat. Sear the beef cubes in batches until dark brown, about 4 minutes per side. Flip or stir gently with a wooden spoon until all edges are dark brown, 2 to 3 minutes more. Remove beef and set aside.
• Add onions to the beef fat with more salt and pepper; cook and stir until they begin to caramelize, about 10 minutes. Add garlic and stir until aromatic and soft, about 30 seconds. Stir in tomato paste and cook until it turns brown and begins to caramelize and stick to the bottom of the pan. Deglaze with red wine, scraping up the flavorful browned bits on the bottom. Let the wine reduce until almost dry again, about 3 minutes.
• Add dried thyme, dried rosemary, herbes de Provence, and bay leaves. Add 2 cups beef broth and Worcestershire, stir, and bring to a boil. Add the seared beef cubes back into the stew liquid. Remove from heat and cover the pot.
• Braise in the preheated oven until meat is almost tender, about 1 1/2 hours. Remove from the oven. Add carrots, potatoes, and more beef broth if needed. Cover and return to the oven to braise until meat and vegetables are tender, about 30 minutes longer.
• Discard bay leaves. Stir in peas, fresh rosemary, and fresh thyme. Serve hot.

OLD-FASHIONED BEEF STEW

Steps:

• Combine the flour and pepper in a bowl, add the beef and toss to coat well. Heat 3 teaspoons of the oil in a large pot. Add the beef a few pieces at a time; do not overcrowd. Cook, turning the pieces until beef is browned on all sides, about 5 minutes per batch; add more oil as needed between batches.
• Remove the beef from the pot and add the vinegar and wine. Cook over medium-high heat, scraping the pan with a wooden spoon to loosen any browned bits. Add the beef, beef broth and bay leaves. Bring to a boil, then reduce to a slow simmer.
• Cover and cook, skimming broth from time to time, until the beef is tender, about 1 1/2 hours. Add the onions and carrots and simmer, covered, for 10 minutes. Add the potatoes and simmer until vegetables are tender, about 30 minutes more. Add broth or water if the stew is dry. Season with salt and pepper to taste. Ladle among 4 bowls and serve.

MOLLY O'NEILL'S BEEF BROTH

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 400 degrees. Divide the ribs, onions, carrots and celery between 2 large roasting pans and roast, stirring twice, for 30 minutes. Transfer to a stockpot and add the water and garlic. Deglaze the roasting pan with the wine and add to the pot. Bring to a boil. Lower heat and simmer, skimming as needed, for 2 hours. Strain, reserving the ribs and discarding the vegetables. Degrease the broth and stir in salt. When cool enough to handle, pull the meat off the bones, cut into large chunks and save for another use, or use in soup.