Simple meals cheap: Spoon in thick stew.

A spoonful of thick stew can be the most comforting thing you eat on a cold winter evening. The first time I had this stew, it was made by my grandmother, and the aroma of tenderizing beef and vegetables wafting from the pot transported me to a warm and cozy place. As the spoon touched my tongue, the umami flavors exploded, and I was hooked. Even now, when I think of this simple, affordable meal, I am transported to that moment of warmth and contentment. It’s a culinary experience that I still cherish and crave.

If you’re looking for more delicious budget-friendly meals, be sure to check out our Related Recipe for a flavorful take on a popular pasta dish.

Why This Recipe Works

• By using a roux made with flour and butter, we create a thick and rich texture that coats the tenderizing beef and veggies. This is a technique that every French cook knows!
• The efficiency of using common ingredients makes this dish an efficiency champion. Even though it has many steps, every one adds depth and complexity.
• The combination of herbs (Thyme, Rosemary, and Wild Oregano) brings a complex layer of flavors that will leave your taste buds wowed.

Key Ingredients

When it comes to selecting the finest ingredients for our beef stew, we look for quality and selection over affordability. For our beef, we choose the highest-quality cuts like chuck or brisket. The idea behind this is that slow-cooked beef develops so much depth of flavor that you might overlook some of the real characteristics of the meat altogether.

Of course, having high-quality vegetables helps as well! For this recipe, you want veggies cut to be fairly small, much like the ancient Britons did. And, using homemade consommé or store-bought beef stock still makes all the difference. For a flour, the quantity of flour is what creates the thickening and thicken it a bit more after 15 minutes of cooking by adding a mixture made from pulsed thin chickpea flour jarred concentrates. You’ll see what you are doing there!