This stew has been a family favourite for years now. I love that you can add any sort of veggies that you like, any that you need to use up. I’m going to show you two ways to make it – stove top, if you need dinner a little quicker, & the slow cooker version for those days that you want to let dinner cook all day long.

Serves 4.

You will need:

600g diced beef

400g Whole tinned tomatoes

1 cup beef broth

3 tbs gravy powder

1 tbs tomato paste

1 tbs crushed garlic

4 large carrots, sliced

3 celery stalks, sliced

4 large potatoes, diced roughly the same size as the beef.

1 large onion, roughly chopped

Slow Cooker method:

Heat a large frying pan to a medium heat, adding in a tablespoon of oil.

Once the pan is hot, add in the diced beef & brown on all sides.

Transfer to the slow cooker.

Add the chopped onion to the pan, & cook until translucent.

Add in the tomato paste & garlic & cook for one minute.

Tranfer onion mix to the slow cooker.

Mix the gravy powder in with the beef broth, stiring to remove any lumps.

Add gravey to the slow cooker.

Next, add in all remaining ingredients, stir & cook on low for 6-8 hours.

In the last 30 minutes of cooking, mix 1 tablespoon of cornflour with 1/4 cup of water & add to the slow cooker.

Set slow cooker to high, stir & cook for another 30 minutes, lid removed.

Serve with your favourite buttered bread & enjoy!

Stove Top Method:

Coat the beef in 1 1/2 tablespoons of all purpose flour.

Set a large pot over a medium – high heat, & add a tablespoon of oil.

Once the pot has become hot, & the oil is shimmering, remove any excess flour from the beef & add to the pot.

Once beef is nicely seared, transfer to a plate & set aside. Don’t worry if the beef isn’t cooked through, it will cook more in the sauce.

Next, add in the onions, celery & carrots & cook until translucent & fragrant.

Next, add in the tomato paste & garlic & cook for one minute, stiring constantly so that the garlic doesn’t burn.

Add the beef back to the pot.

Next, mix the gravy powder with the beef broth & add it into the pot.

Add in the tomatoes & potatoes & give everything a good mix.

Reduce heat to medium- low & allow to simmer, lid on for 30- 40 minutes or until the potatoes are cooked through.

Serve with your favourite buttered bread & enjoy!