Hearty Beef and Pumpkin Stew with Ale

Name: Hearty Beef and Pumpkin Stew with Ale
Prep time: 25 min
Cook time: 140 min
Total time: 165 min
Yield: 6
Ingredients: 500 g stewing beef, cut into chunks; 1 medium pumpkin , peeled, deseeded and chopped; 600 g carrots, cut into chunks; 2 onions sliced or chopped; 1 celery stick roughly sliced; 2 tbsp vegetable oil; 250 ml ale or beer; 1 l vegetable stock; 1 1/2 tbsp tomato puree; 1 1/2 tbsp plain flour; 1/4 bunch fresh thyme; 2 bay leaves; 1 serving mashed potato or crusty bread, to serve

A comforting, slow-cooked stew that pairs tender chunks of beef with sweet, seasonal pumpkin and a rich ale-infused gravy. This one-pot meal is the ultimate autumn comfort food, perfect for chilly evenings.

Servings6 Portions

Prep Time25 Mins

Cook Time140 Mins

Difficulty

Intermediate

Ingredients

stewing beef, cut into chunks
500 g
medium pumpkin , peeled, deseeded and chopped
1
carrots, cut into chunks
600 g
onions sliced or chopped
2
celery stick roughly sliced
1
vegetable oil
2 tbsp
ale or beer
250 ml
vegetable stock
1 l
tomato puree
0.5 tbsp
plain flour
0.5 tbsp
fresh thyme
0.3 bunch
bay leaves
2
mashed potato or crusty bread, to serve
1 serving

Step-by-Step Instructions

Heat the vegetable oil in a large, lidded casserole dish or flameproof pot over medium-high heat. Brown the beef in batches for a few minutes until seared on all sides. Remove the beef with a slotted spoon and set aside in a bowl.

In the same pan, reduce the heat to medium and add the onions. Sauté for 6-8 minutes, stirring occasionally, until they are softened and translucent.

Stir in the carrots, celery, thyme, and bay leaves. Cook for another 2-3 minutes to allow the vegetables to soften slightly. Return the browned beef and any collected juices to the pan.

Mix in the tomato purée and plain flour, stirring well to coat the meat and vegetables. This will help thicken the gravy as it cooks.

Pour in the vegetable stock and ale. Season generously with salt and pepper, then bring to a boil. Once boiling, reduce the heat to a low simmer, cover with a lid, and cook for 1 hour.