Your best Beef Stew Type Slow Cooker recipe..... pleeeeeese!

[Chocolateporridge]

I love my slow cooker and would use it every day but DH complains that it all tastes the same (even though it doesn't ). I have my shopping being delivered this afternoon and I've bought some lovely diced beef and really fancy a beef stew type meal. Can you share your favourite, most delicious recipe so that we both enjoy it for a change? Thanks!

I use a pan rather than a slow cooker, but a decent amount of red wine/proper beer instead of water or worse, stock from cubes, is delicious.

I do this beef stroganoff or beef bourguignon and both are very nice

chuck yourself on this thread loads of ideas there

BBC good foods beef in red wine and cranberry is lovely.

We love beef in Guinness or red wine, or just a good long cooked curry. I'd second leaving out stock cubes, or any dried herbs you regularly use. A handful of fresh parsley or coriander stirred in just before you serve can make a difference too.

I dump the beef in a bowl containing flour and salt &pepper/italian herbs. Then shallow fry them until brown.
Chuck some red wine,garlic and onion in the pan.
Cook until wine is reduced.
Dissolve oxo cube/or 2 in pint of water. Add some cornflour to thicken.
Chuck it in slow cooker with some chopped carrot.

When it is about 30 mins from done, do some dumplings.
Add them to slow cooker and cover with gravy

Serve on a bed of creamy mash....mega yum!

Here's our favourite (comes from Ultimate Slow Cooker by Sara Lewis)
Gingered Beef with Bay
Heat 2tbsp olive oil in a large pan and brown c.500g cubed beef. Transfer beef to a plate. Add 1 chopped onion to pan and soften. Stir in 2tbsp flour, gradually mix in 450ml beef stock, then add 1 tbsp tomato purée, 1 tbsp balsamic vinegar, 2 tsp dark br sugar, 3 bay leaves, 4cm chopped ginger, salt and pepper. Bring to boil. Transfer beef then sauce to preheated slow cooker, cook on low for 8-10 hrs. I usually make it late in the evening and leave it to cook overnight.

I know ruby he's sooooo fussy!

All of these sound delicious! The only thing is that I'm in the very early stages of pregnancy and my DD is two years old, is it okay for us to eat meals prepared with red wine, or guiness etc? I thought it was a myth about the cooking process removing the alcohol?

Its certainly fine if the liquid is bubbling, alcohol evaporates at a much lower temperature than water although you probably don't want to inhale the fumes if you're pregnant not that I consider that a cook's perk. If in doubt, can you stick it on the hob for a few minutes at the end and get it properly up to temperature. Googling gives lots of pages supporting my theory, none against but nothing reputable either way.

Also I'm talking about 1 wine glassful in a dish that does 4 adult portions, so not enough to get any of you drunk.

Christmas cake stays alcoholic, but that's because you keep adding alchocol once its cooked.

Jamie O's 'Jools' Favourite Beef Stew'.

Fantastic! I've sent hubby out for Merlot and mushrooms, will have a go tomorrow. Thanks

Also I'm talking about 1 wine glassful in a dish that does 4 adult portions, so not enough to get any of you drunk.

There's probably as much alcohol in ripe fruit, and yo would eat that wouldn't you?

Well thanks to all your tips my beef stew turned out really, really delicious and DH says it's the best he's ever had!

I made it with mushrooms, thyme, carrots.... oh and a large glass of red merlot I also used Worcester sauce to spice it a wee bit thanks to the BBC good food website. Got some leftovers for tomorrow too, can't wait....

I like to add a can of carrot & coriander soup to the beef stew, plus a handful of chopped apricots & sultanas. If you adventurous, add a small piece of dark chocolate, it won't make the stew sweet, but will add a depth.