Hearty Witch’s Cauldron Beef Stew (A Spooky Halloween Dinner!)
A classic and hearty recipe for a ‘Witch’s Cauldron Beef Stew,’ perfect for a cool autumn evening or a Halloween-themed meal. This one-pot dish features tender cubes of beef stew meat that are first browned for a rich flavor. The beef is then slow-simmered with carrots, potatoes, and onions in a savory broth enriched with red wine, tomato paste, and herbs like thyme and a bay leaf. The stew is cooked for up to two hours until the meat is exceptionally tender and is suggestively served in hollowed-out bread bowls to resemble a spooky cauldron.
Ingredients
- 1 lb beef stew meat
- 2 cups beef broth
- 1 cup red wine
- 3 carrots, sliced
- 2 potatoes, cubed
- 1 onion, chopped
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 2 tbsp tomato paste
- 1 tsp dried thyme
- 1 bay leaf
- Salt and pepper to taste
- Hollowed-out bread bowls for serving (optional)
Instructions
- In a large pot or Dutch oven, brown the beef stew meat over medium heat.
- Add the chopped onion and minced garlic to the pot, sautéing until the onion has softened.
- Stir in the tomato paste, dried thyme, and the bay leaf.
- Pour in the red wine, using a spoon to scrape up any browned bits from the bottom of the pot.
- Add the beef broth, sliced carrots, and cubed potatoes.
- Bring the stew to a boil, then reduce the heat to low, cover, and let it simmer for 1.5 to 2 hours, until the meat is fork-tender.
- Season the stew with salt and pepper to taste. Remove the bay leaf before serving.
- Ladle the hot stew into hollowed-out bread bowls for a spooky ‘cauldron’ effect, or serve in regular bowls.
Notes
- This is a classic one-pot comfort food meal.
- Browning the beef before simmering is a key step that adds a deep, rich flavor to the stew.
- The long, slow simmering time is crucial for making the beef stew meat tender.
- Serving the stew in bread bowls is a fun, optional presentation idea, especially for Halloween.
Find it online: https://www.eatswithsoul.com/cauldron-beef-stew/