Description
This comforting one-pot meal features tender chunks of beef slow-simmered in a savory broth with hearty vegetables, topped with fluffy, buttery dumplings. It’s the ultimate cozy dinner—perfect for chilly nights or relaxed Sunday meals.
Ingredients
600g chuck beef (stewing beef)
2 carrots, peeled and chopped
3 potatoes, diced
2 stalks celery, chopped
1 yellow onion, diced
3 garlic cloves, minced
2 tablespoons tomato paste
4 cups beef stock
1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
1 teaspoon dried thyme
1 bay leaf
1 teaspoon salt
½ teaspoon black pepper
1½ cups self-rising flour
3 tablespoons cold butter, cubed
¾ cup milk
1 tablespoon chopped fresh parsley (optional)
Instructions
1. Heat a Dutch oven over medium-high heat with a bit of oil. Brown beef cubes in batches until all sides are seared. Set aside.
2. In the same pot, sauté onion, garlic, carrots, and celery for 5–7 minutes until soft. Stir in tomato paste and cook 1–2 minutes.
3. Return beef to the pot. Add potatoes, beef stock, Worcestershire sauce, thyme, bay leaf, salt, and pepper. Bring to a boil, then reduce to a simmer. Cover and cook for 1.5 to 2 hours.
4. Meanwhile, prepare the dumplings: In a bowl, combine self-rising flour and butter. Rub together until the mixture resembles breadcrumbs. Stir in milk to form a soft dough. Avoid overmixing.
5. Drop spoonfuls of the dough over the simmering stew. Cover and steam the dumplings for 15–20 minutes without lifting the lid.
6. Once the dumplings are puffed and cooked through, sprinkle with parsley. Serve hot with crusty bread if desired.
Notes
Don’t lift the lid while the dumplings are steaming—it will release necessary moisture and affect their rise.
If you want a thicker stew, mash a few potatoes or stir in a cornstarch slurry near the end.
Fresh herbs like parsley or chives sprinkled on top enhance both flavor and appearance.
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 2 hours
- Category: Stew
- Method: Stovetop
- Cuisine: British
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 bowl
- Calories: 465
- Sugar: 5g
- Sodium: 720mg
- Fat: 20g
- Saturated Fat: 9g
- Unsaturated Fat: 10g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 36g
- Fiber: 4g
- Protein: 34g
- Cholesterol: 85mg
Keywords: beef stew, dumplings, one-pot meal