Beef Stew with Zucchini
Submitted by Ghengis
Slow cooker beef stew with tender chuck, zucchini, potatoes, celery, and green pepper simmered all day in a marjoram-scented broth. Finished with a quick skillet gravy spooned over everything.
YIELD
6 servingsPREP
30 minCOOK
10 hrsREADY
10 hrsHere is a set-it-and-forget-it stew that has earned its stripes with over 50 reviews for good reason.
Beef chuck gets a hard sear for flavor, then layers into the crockpot with potatoes, zucchini, celery, green pepper, and onion for a long, lazy 8 to 10 hour simmer on low.
Marjoram and bay leaf keep the seasoning simple and herby without getting complicated.
Before serving, you skim a little fat from the cooking liquid and whisk it with flour in a hot skillet to make a quick, silky gravy that you pour right over the meat and vegetables on the platter.
Kitchen Tips
- Brown the meat well before it goes in the crockpot. This step only takes a few minutes but adds a huge depth of flavor that slow cooking alone cannot achieve.
- Deglaze the skillet with water after browning and pour those pan juices into the crockpot. That is liquid gold you do not want to waste.
- The zucchini will be very soft after 8 to 10 hours. If you prefer it with more bite, add it in the last 2 hours of cooking.
- The gravy at the end pulls the whole dish together. Do not skip it. It turns good stew into great stew.
Ingredients
Directions
In a large skillet over medium heat, thoroughly brown the meat in the oil.
Sprinkle half the salt and pepper over the meat.
Lift the meat into a bowl.
Sauté the onion in the skillet until transparent and lift out into the crockpot.
In the same skillet swirl the water, scraping up the juices, then turn the liquid into the crockpot.
Add the marjoram, green pepper, bay leaf, celery, potatoes and zucchini.
Sprinkle the rest of the salt and pepper.
Place the meat on top and cook on low for 8 to 10 hours.
Before serving, remove the meat and veggies to a platter and keep warm.
Skim 2 tablespoons fat from the top of the liquid and heat in a skillet.
Stir the flour and heat rapidly to make a smooth sauce.
Simmer until the sauce is as thick as whipped cream, then pour over the meat and veggies.
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