Stew for the heart

The next best thing to a hot soup of what seems to be the coldest winter of San Francisco is a hearty, warm stew. Here's one of my favorite recipes from none other than Paula Dean:

  • 2 pounds stew beef
  • 2 tablespoons vegetable oil
  • 2 cups water
  • 1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
  • 1 clove garlic, peeled
  • 1 or 2 bay leaves
  • 1 medium onion, sliced
  • 1 teaspoon salt
  • 1 teaspoon sugar
  • 1/2 teaspoon pepper
  • 1/2 teaspoon paprika
  • Dash ground allspice or ground cloves
  • 3 large carrots, sliced
  • 3 ribs celery, chopped
  • 2 tablespoons cornstarch

Directions

Brown meat in hot oil. Add water, Worcestershire sauce, garlic, bay leaves, onion, salt, sugar, pepper, paprika, and allspice. Cover and simmer 1 1/2 hours. Remove bay leaves and garlic clove. Add carrots and celery. Cover and cook 30 to 40 minutes longer. To thicken gravy, remove 2 cups hot liquid. Using a separate bowl, combine

1/4 cup water and cornstarch until smooth. Mix with a little hot liquid and return mixture to pot. Stir and cook until bubbly.

Per serving: Calories: 349; Total Fat: 20 grams; Saturated Fat: 6 grams; Protein: 31 grams; Total carbohydrates: 10 grams; Sugar: 4 grams; Fiber: 2 grams; Cholesterol: 96 milligrams; Sodium: 574 milligrams

She also suggests a Cabernet with this dish. Loves it!

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Born and raised in the San Francisco Bay Area, Sharon Lim is a food fanatic and drink devotee constantly thinking about where and what to eat next. Her B.A. in journalism from SFSU and experiences working for established SF publications taught her how to research, write, and report while thinking...

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