Sweet Merlot Beef Stew Recipes

MERLOT BEEF STEW

Steps:

• Pre-heat oven to 300 degrees.
• Prepare vegetables, keeping chopped onions aside.
• In a medium bowl combine flour and pepper, set aside.
• In a measuring cup combine beef base with 1 cup hot water, set aside.
• In a dutch oven heat oil over medium-high heat.
• Chop bacon, set aside.
• Cut beef into 1 1/2 to 2 inch chunks.
• Add beef to seasoned flour, toss to coat.
• Brown seasoned beef in two batches, placing first and second batches in a medium bowl.
• Add bacon to hot dutch oven, stirring until the fat is just turning golden brown.
• Remove and add to beef bowl.
• Add onions to dutch oven, reducing heat to medium.
• Stir often and keep an eye on them so they do not burn.
• When just golden add tomato paste, whisking constantly for 1 minute.
• Add the merlot, whisking constantly for 1 minute.
• Add the beef base with water, worcestershire, beef stock, dry french rub and stir well.
• Add prepared vegetables, stir well to coat.
• Add contents of the beef bowl, stir well to coat.
• Add bay leaves.
• Cover with a lid and place in oven.
• If your oven runs hot reduce heat to 275 degrees.
• Check stew at 3 hours, giving it a good stir.
• Add water if needed.
• Stir again at 4 hours, remove at 5 hours.
• Search out bay leaves and remove.

BEEF MERLOT CROCK POT

Steps:

• Heat frying pan on HIGH (hot pan, cold grease= NO STICKING!).
• Add 2 T bacon fat- melt.
• Add chopped onion and garlic.
• Turn down heat to medium low- sauté for 5 minutes.
• Remove and set aside.
• Turn up heat to High- get pan really hot.
• Add more bacon fat or olive oil if pan is dry.
• Quickly brown meat- let each side get browned.
• Place browned meat into crock pot.
• Add 1 cup water to pan to make a beef stock.
• Add 2 bouillon cubes- stir and break up into stock.
• Add 1/4 Merlot (or other red wine) optional.
• Pour over meat in crock pot.
• Spoon onion mixture over meat.
• Cover and cook 10 hours on Low.
• Serve with mashed potatoes (or rice), cooked/buttered broccoli and crusty rolls.

SWEET BEEF STEW

Steps:

• In a pressure cooker, brown beef, onions and garlic in oil over medium heat. Stir in salt, ginger, pepper and nutmeg. Combine the apricot nectar, soy sauce, molasses and brown sugar; pour over meat. Close cover securely; place pressure regulator on vent pipe., Bring cooker to full pressure over high heat. Reduce heat to medium-high and cook for 20 minutes. (Pressure regulator should maintain a slow steady rocking motion; adjust heat if needed.) Remove from the heat; allow pressure to drop on it's own., Remove meat with a slotted spoon. Combine cornstarch and water until smooth; gradually add to pan drippings. Bring to a boil; cook and stir for 2 minutes or until thickened. Stir in meat and serve over rice.