Embark on a culinary journey with our tantalizing beef casserole and dumplings, a classic dish that promises a symphony of flavors and textures. Picture tender beef chunks enveloped in a rich, savory gravy, nestled beneath a blanket of fluffy dumplings that soak up all the deliciousness. This hearty and comforting casserole is perfect for chilly evenings, family gatherings, or a special treat. With our detailed recipe, you'll learn how to craft this timeless dish from scratch, using simple ingredients and easy-to-follow instructions. Additionally, we've included variations for a slow cooker and Instant Pot, so you can choose the cooking method that best suits your lifestyle. Vegetarian? Not a problem! We have a delectable vegetarian casserole recipe that swaps beef for hearty vegetables, ensuring everyone can enjoy this classic comfort food. And for those who love a crispy crust, our Dutch oven beef casserole bakes to golden perfection, creating a textural contrast that will delight your taste buds. So, gather your ingredients, preheat your oven, and let's embark on a culinary adventure that will leave you craving more.
Here are our top 4 tried and tested recipes!
BEEF STEW AND DUMPLINGS
This hearty one-pot beef stew recipe boasts tender beef, chunky vegetables and dumplings to soak up the juices.
Provided by Nigel Slater
Categories Main course
Yield Serves 4
Number Of Ingredients 25
Steps:
- For the beef stew, heat the oil in a large, lidded casserole over a medium heat. Fry the chuck steak for 3-4 minutes, until browned on all sides. Remove from the pan and set aside.
- Add the onions, carrot, celery and swede and fry for 6-8 minutes, or until golden-brown, adding a little more olive oil if need be. Season with salt and pepper.
- Add the plain flour and stir well. Cook for 1-2 minutes, or until it turns a nut-brown colour. Pour in the stock and stir well until the sauce thickens.
- Return the beef to the casserole, add the red wine and bay leaves and bring the mixture to the boil. Reduce the heat until the mixture is simmering, then leave to simmer gently for 1 hour with the lid slightly ajar.
- Meanwhile, for the suet dumplings, combine the flour, suet, baking powder and salt in a bowl until well combined. Add the water gradually, stirring the mixture with your fingers, until it comes together as a slightly sloppy dough. Shape the dough into balls roughly the size of a plum.
- For the herby oat dumplings, combine the oatmeal, flour, baking powder, salt and herbs in a mixing bowl until well combined. Grate the chilled butter into the bowl and mix again. Bring the dough together with your fingers, gradually adding enough water, as before, to make a wet dough. Shape the dough into plum-sized balls.
- When the stew has been simmering for an hour, season it again with salt and pepper, if necessary. Put the dumplings on top of the stew, cover the casserole with the lid, and cook for a further 15-20 minutes, or until the dumplings have proudly puffed up. Serve.
BEEF CASSEROLE WITH HERB DUMPLINGS
This is clipped from an Australian Women's magazine. The aroma while in the oven was wonderful. My family enjoyed the subtle herby flavours and tender meat. Although the recipe calls for 12 garlic cloves, that flavour was not overpowering as they were cooked whole. The buttermilk dumplings were melt in the mouth. Overall however the flavours were somewhat subtle and I will add something more next time....
Provided by DJoy5847
Categories Meat
Time 2h20m
Yield 8 serving(s)
Number Of Ingredients 17
Steps:
- Cut beef into 2 1/2cm cubes. Toss in flour to coat all over, shaking off any excess.
- Heat half the oil in a large flameproof casserole dish (20 cup capacity). Cook beef, in batches, until browned all over. Remove from dish.
- Heat remaining oil to same dish. Add onion, carrots and garlic. Cook, stirring, until onion is soft. Add wine. Simmer 1 minute or until sauce thickens. Whisk in stock until smooth. Return beef to pan with swedes, potatoes and thyme. Bring to boil.
- Cook, covered, in a moderately slow oven (160C) for about 2 hours, or until beef is tender, stirring occasionally during cooking.
- Meanwhile, to make dumplings, place flour, salt and pepper in a large bowl. Rub in butter until mixture resembles fine breadcrumbs. Stir in parsley. Using a butter knife, stir in milk until mixture forms a firm dough. Turn dough onto a floured surface. Roll dough until 1 1/2cm in thickness. Using a 5cm cutter, cut 12 rounds from dough, rerolling dough if necessary.
- Remove casserole from oven. Carefully discard thyme sprigs. Arrange dumplings over top of casserole and brush with a little extra buttermilk.
- Cook, uncovered, in a very hot oven (240C) for about 20 minutes, or until dumplings are golden brown and cooked through.
- Serve garnished with extra fresh thyme.
MOM'S HEARTY BEEF STEW WITH DUMPLINGS
My mom's beef stew recipe that she's perfected over 25 years. Tender chunks of beef couple with hearty vegetables in a rich gravy for a soul-warming treat. And Oh! The dumplings!
Provided by ambikins
Categories Soups, Stews and Chili Recipes Stews Beef
Time 3h40m
Yield 8
Number Of Ingredients 16
Steps:
- Heat the olive oil in a large heavy pot or Dutch oven over medium-high heat until the oil is shimmering, and place the onion and beef into the hot oil. Sprinkle with 1 teaspoon of the steak seasoning, stir the meat and onions well, and sprinkle with 1 more teaspoon of seasoning. Add the celery, and cook and stir until the meat is browned, about 10 minutes.
- Pour in 2 cups of water to just cover the meat, onion, and celery, bring to a boil, and stir and scrape the browned bits of flavor from the bottom of the pan. Cover, reduce heat, and simmer until the beef is very tender, about 2 hours. Remove the meat and celery pieces from the pan, set the meat aside, and discard the celery.
- In a bowl, whisk together the gravy mix with 4 cups of water. Add the mixture to the juices in the pot, bring to a boil, and stir the meat back into the gravy mixture. Stir in the turnip and carrots, cover, and simmer for 20 minutes. Stir in the potatoes, cover, and simmer an additional 20 minutes.
- To make dumplings, mix the flour, baking powder, and salt in a bowl. Cut the shortening into the flour mixture with a pastry cutter or two knives until the mixture looks crumbly. Pour in the milk, and lightly stir the mixture just until it combines to form a dough.
- Remove 2 cups of gravy from the pot, and reserve. Drop the dumplings by heaping tablespoon onto the meat and vegetables in the pot, cover, and simmer for 20 minutes. Do not peek until the time is up. Pour the reserved gravy back over the dumplings, stir lightly, and serve.
Nutrition Facts : Calories 514.6 calories, Carbohydrate 64.7 g, Cholesterol 62.1 mg, Fat 15.1 g, Fiber 6.5 g, Protein 29.7 g, SaturatedFat 4.7 g, Sodium 1261.3 mg, Sugar 5.3 g
BEEF STEW WITH DUMPLINGS
I was given this recipe when my husband and I were first married. I've been making this wonderful beef stew recipe for 35 years and have never found a better one.
Provided by carolj
Categories Soups, Stews and Chili Recipes Stews Beef
Time 2h20m
Yield 5
Number Of Ingredients 18
Steps:
- In a bowl, toss cubed beef with flour to coat.
- Heat 4 tablespoons butter in a heavy skillet over medium-high heat. Place flour in a bag or bowl, and add beef cubes. Toss to coat with flour. Place coated cubes in the skillet and fry until well-browned on all sides; remove from pan and set aside.
- Cook onion and garlic in same pan until tender. Return meat to pan with water, parsley, salt, pepper, and bay leaf. Reduce heat to low, cover, and simmer 1 hour, stirring occasionally and adding more water if needed. Stir in potatoes, carrots, celery, and green pepper, and continue cooking another 15 minutes. Remove the bay leaf, and stir in mushrooms.
- In a small bowl, mix together baking mix, 3 tablespoons melted butter, and milk until just blended. Drop dough by the tablespoonful into stew. Simmer, uncovered, approximately 10 minutes. Cover, and simmer 10 minutes more, or until dumplings are cooked through, but not dry.
Nutrition Facts : Calories 829.8 calories, Carbohydrate 48.3 g, Cholesterol 164.4 mg, Fat 51.8 g, Fiber 4.7 g, Protein 42.5 g, SaturatedFat 23.7 g, Sodium 1181 mg, Sugar 6.6 g
Tips:
- Use high-quality beef: Opt for lean cuts like chuck roast or top sirloin, which will become tender and flavorful during the cooking process.
- Brown the beef before stewing: Browning the beef adds depth of flavor and helps to lock in the juices. Sear the meat in a hot skillet until it's browned on all sides, then transfer it to the slow cooker or Dutch oven.
- Use a variety of vegetables: Don't limit yourself to just a few vegetables. Add a mix of colorful and flavorful vegetables like carrots, potatoes, celery, onions, and peas to create a hearty and satisfying stew.
- Choose the right liquid: The liquid you use for your beef casserole will greatly impact the flavor. Beef broth, red wine, and even beer are all popular choices. Experiment with different liquids to find the one you like best.
- Season well: Don't be shy with the seasonings! Garlic, onion powder, paprika, and thyme are all classic choices for beef casserole. You can also add a bay leaf or two for extra flavor.
- Cook on low and slow: The key to a tender and flavorful beef casserole is to cook it low and slow. Simmer the stew for at least 2 hours, or until the beef is fall-apart tender.
- Serve with your favorite sides: Beef casserole is a versatile dish that can be served with a variety of sides. Mashed potatoes, egg noodles, or crusty bread are all popular choices.
Conclusion:
Beef casserole is a classic comfort food that is perfect for a cold winter day. With its tender beef, flavorful gravy, and hearty dumplings, it's a dish that the whole family will love. So next time you're looking for a delicious and satisfying meal, give beef casserole a try. You won't be disappointed!
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