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Recipe Tags: Time To Make Course Main Ingredient Cuisine Preparation Occasion Casseroles Main Dish Beef Vegetables Oven Easy European Heirloom Historical Holiday Event Kid Friendly Winter English Scottish Stews Dietary One Dish Meal Welsh Seasonal Comfort Food Ground Beef Meat Steak Carrots Taste Mood Savory Equipment Presentation Served Hot 4 Hours Or Less

A Winter's Walk Beef And Carrot Stew With Herb Crusted Dumplings

I named this a winter's walk beef stew, as it is just the kind of hearty and welcoming meal to come back to after a cold and energetic winter's walk! The dumplings are baked for the last 20 minutes on top of the stew and are deliciously crisp and golden, but still fluffy and light underneath. This can be made with minced beef/ground beef as well as braising/stewing steak or chuck steak. I have allowed 2 dumplings per person here - please adapt the quantities to suit, but we always find 2 dumplings each very satisfying! There is no need to serve much else with this filling comforting stew, maybe some steamed cabbage, baby potatoes or greens would be nice.....or a few extra carrots. This serves 4 people with very generous helpings. You may need a walk afterwards!! A nice glass of robust red wine or a pint of ale would be great accompaniments! this can be made in a crockpot - up to the dumpling stage and then the stew can be put into an ovenproof dish and baked with the dumplings. Likewis

Steps

Beef and carrot stew:.
Toss the meat in the flour that has been seasoned with salt and pepper.
Fry the meat in the butter in a large roomy frying pan or skillet until browned , turning constantly.
Remove the sealed browned meat and set aside.
Add the onions , garlic and carrots to the same pan and fry for 5 to 7 minutes or until golden and coloured.
Put the meat in to a suitable sized oven proof casserole dish or dutch oven , such as a le creuset.
Add the fried vegetables , tinned chopped tomatoes and the beef stock - mix well , cover with a lid and place into a pre-heated oven 170c / 325f / gas mark 3 for 2 hours.
Twenty minutes before the end of the 2 hours cooking time , take the stew out of the oven , remove the lid and add the dumplings , drop them on top of the stew.
Do not replace the lid , continue to bake uncovered for a further 20 to 25 minutes or until dumplings have risen and are crusty , crispy and golden brown.
Serve immediately with steamed cabbage , greens an.

Ingredients

lean stewing beef, plain flour, butter, salt, black pepper, onions, garlic cloves, carrots, turnips, plum tomatoes, beef stock, self raising flour, dried herbs, vegetable suet, water