Description

This Witch’s Cauldron Beef Stew is a hearty and comforting dish perfect for a spooky Halloween dinner. It features tender beef simmered with root vegetables and red wine, served in hollowed-out bread bowls to create a festive cauldron effect. Rich in flavor and satisfying, this stew is sure to warm you up on a chilly fall evening.

Ingredients

Scale

Beef and Broth

1 lb beef stew meat
2 cups beef broth
1 cup red wine

Vegetables and Aromatics

3 carrots, sliced
2 potatoes, cubed
1 onion, chopped
2 cloves garlic, minced

Seasonings

2 tbsp tomato paste
1 tsp dried thyme
1 bay leaf
Salt and pepper to taste

Serving

Hollowed-out bread bowls for serving (optional)

Instructions

Brown the Beef: In a large pot, heat over medium heat and brown the beef stew meat until all sides are seared, creating a flavorful base for the stew.
Sauté Aromatics: Add the chopped onion and minced garlic to the pot. Cook until softened and fragrant, about 3-5 minutes.
Add Seasonings: Stir in the tomato paste, dried thyme, and bay leaf, coating the meat and vegetables thoroughly to build layers of flavor.
Deglaze with Wine: Pour in the red wine, scraping up any browned bits stuck to the bottom of the pot to incorporate that deep, rich flavor into the stew.
Add Broth and Vegetables: Pour in the beef broth, then add the sliced carrots and cubed potatoes. Stir to combine.
Simmer the Stew: Bring the mixture to a boil, then reduce heat to low. Cover and let simmer for 1.5 to 2 hours, or until the beef is tender and vegetables are cooked through.
Season and Serve: Taste and season with salt and pepper as needed. Serve the stew hot in hollowed-out bread bowls for a festive, spooky cauldron presentation.

Notes

For extra depth of flavor, brown the meat in batches to avoid steaming.
Red wine can be substituted with additional beef broth if preferred.
Include other root vegetables like parsnips or turnips for variety.
Make sure to simmer gently to keep the meat tender and juicy.
Using hollowed-out bread bowls adds to the Halloween theme but is optional.

Prep Time: 20 minutes
Cook Time: 1 hour 45 minutes
Category: Dinner
Method: Simmering/Braising
Cuisine: American

Nutrition

Serving Size: 1 serving (approx. 1.5 cups stew plus 1 bread bowl)
Calories: 450 kcal
Sugar: 6 g
Sodium: 550 mg
Fat: 15 g
Saturated Fat: 5 g
Unsaturated Fat: 8 g
Trans Fat: 0 g
Carbohydrates: 38 g
Fiber: 6 g
Protein: 35 g
Cholesterol: 90 mg

Keywords: Halloween dinner, beef stew, witch’s cauldron, hearty stew, fall recipe, red wine stew, comforting dinner