Laura Smith
Beef and mushroom stew is a hearty meal that is perfect for cold weather. It is loaded with tender beef, pillowy gnocchi, and mushrooms swimming in a thick and silky broth. There are many ways to make this stew, but generally, you start by searing the beef, then sautéing your flavouring vegetables (onions, carrots, and celery) along with garlic and herbs. You can then deglaze the pot with red wine and add beef stock. Finally, add your mushrooms and cook until the beef is tender.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Type of Mushrooms | Small portobello mushrooms (cremini), button mushrooms, dried shitakes, baby bella mushrooms |
| When to add mushrooms | At the end of cooking, 15 minutes before serving, or after an hour of stewing |
| How to cook mushrooms | Sauté, braise, or brown |
| Other ingredients | Beef, thyme, rosemary, oregano, carrots, potatoes, onions, celery, garlic, tomato paste, red wine, beef stock, gnocchi, bay leaves, sage, pepper, salt, butter, flour, oil, Worcestershire sauce, fish sauce, soy sauce, cornstarch, water |
| Cooking method | Oven, instant pot, Dutch oven, skillet |
| Calories | 488kcal |
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What You'll Learn
Sauté the mushrooms before adding them to the stew
Sautéing mushrooms before adding them to the stew is a great way to enhance their flavour and texture. Here's a step-by-step guide to achieving delicious sautéed mushrooms for your beef stew:
Prepare the Mushrooms
Start by choosing your favourite variety of mushrooms. White mushrooms, creminis, shiitakes, morels, and other wild mushrooms are excellent options for sautéing. Clean and slice the mushrooms into evenly sized pieces. Avoid cutting them too thin, as they will shrink during cooking.
Heat the Pan
For the best flavour, use a combination of oil and butter. Heat a medium to a large pan over medium-high heat, and add enough oil and butter to coat the bottom of the pan. You can also add a tablespoon of olive oil for extra flavour.
Cook the Mushrooms
Place the mushrooms in the pan, leaving some space between them. Cook the mushrooms for 3-5 minutes on one side, then stir and cook for a couple of minutes more. Season the mushrooms with salt and pepper to taste. Larger mushrooms might require a little extra cooking time.
Deglaze the Pan
After sautéing, you'll notice flavourful bits of the mushroom clinging to the bottom of the pan. Add a few tablespoons of liquid such as water, wine, stock, cream, or sherry. Keep the heat up and stir until the liquid evaporates, infusing that extra flavour back into the mushrooms.
Add Herbs and Seasonings
Enhance the flavour of your mushrooms by adding herbs and seasonings. Garlic, thyme, parsley, rosemary, and shallots are wonderful additions. Add the garlic and herbs during the last minute of cooking to avoid overcooking them. You can also sauté onions along with the mushrooms for added flavour and texture.
Combine with the Stew
Once your mushrooms are perfectly sautéed, it's time to add them to your beef stew. Combine them with the other ingredients in your stew pot and continue with your recipe. Enjoy the rich, earthy flavour and texture that sautéed mushrooms bring to your hearty dish!
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Add mushrooms to the beef stew at different times
When adding mushrooms to a beef stew, the mushrooms can be added at different times, depending on the desired texture and flavour. Here are some options:
Sautéing Mushrooms First:
Before adding mushrooms to the stew, they can be sautéed separately in a skillet or the same pot. Heat some oil or butter in a pan, add the mushrooms, and cook until they are tender and slightly browned. This step adds flavour and texture to the mushrooms before they go into the stew. Sautéing the mushrooms first ensures they don't become mushy in the stew and adds a depth of flavour to the dish.
Adding Mushrooms During Cooking:
Mushrooms can be added to the stew during the cooking process, especially if you want them to absorb the flavours of the stew. The timing of this addition depends on the desired texture of the mushrooms. For example, in an Instant Pot recipe, mushrooms are added after the beef, stock, tomato paste, soy sauce, and fish sauce have been cooked together for 22 minutes. This ensures the mushrooms cook along with the other ingredients and absorb their flavours.
Adding Mushrooms Near the End:
If you prefer your mushrooms to have a firmer texture and a more distinct flavour, you can add them towards the end of the cooking process. In a recipe that includes carrots, potatoes, and onions, the mushrooms are added after these vegetables have cooked for 30 minutes. This allows the mushrooms to cook for about an hour, retaining their shape and flavour while still absorbing some of the stew's flavours.
Final Seasoning and Serving:
Regardless of when the mushrooms are added, the final steps of making a beef stew often involve seasoning to taste with salt and pepper. If serving with gnocchi, it is recommended to add the gnocchi 15 minutes before serving to prevent it from becoming mushy.
Remember, the timing of adding mushrooms to a beef stew can be adjusted to suit your preference for mushroom texture and flavour. Experiment with different timings to find what works best for your taste!
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Use dried mushrooms to intensify the mushroom flavour
Dried mushrooms can be used to intensify the mushroom flavour in a beef stew. One way to do this is to steep dried shiitake mushrooms in water and use this water in place of some of the stock. This will add a more intense mushroom flavour to the broth.
Another option is to use dried porcini mushrooms, which have a more assertive flavour than fresh mushrooms. These can be powdered and added directly to the stew or reconstituted and added as you would use fresh mushrooms.
When using dried mushrooms, it is important to consider the texture you want in your stew. Fresh mushrooms can be sautéed until tender, but dried mushrooms may need to be soaked or cooked differently to achieve the same texture. If you are using dried mushrooms for their intense flavour, you may need to adjust the cooking time or method to ensure they are not too tough in the final dish.
Additionally, when intensifying the mushroom flavour with dried mushrooms, you can also add fresh mushrooms to the stew. This will give you the best of both worlds, combining the intense flavour of the dried mushrooms with the meaty texture of fresh mushrooms.
Finally, when using dried mushrooms, it is important to taste the stew regularly and adjust the seasoning as needed. Salt and pepper can be used to enhance the mushroom flavour and ensure that it complements the other ingredients in the stew.
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Add mushrooms to the stew before serving
Adding Mushrooms to Beef Stew Before Serving
There are several ways to add mushrooms to a beef stew before serving. The method you choose will depend on the type of mushrooms you are using, the other ingredients in your stew, and your personal preference. Here is a step-by-step guide on how to add mushrooms to your beef stew before serving:
Preparing the Mushrooms:
First, select the type of mushrooms you want to use. Common choices include button mushrooms, cremini (small portobello), or baby bella mushrooms. Clean the mushrooms by gently wiping them with a damp cloth or paper towel to remove any dirt. You can also quickly rinse them with cold water and pat them dry, but make sure they are thoroughly dried before cooking.
Slicing the Mushrooms:
Decide how you want to cut your mushrooms. You can slice them into halves or quarters, depending on their size. Smaller pieces will cook faster and may absorb more of the stew's flavours. Larger pieces will retain their shape and texture better.
Sautéing the Mushrooms:
Add a small amount of butter or oil to a skillet or pan and heat it over medium-high heat. Once the butter is melted or the oil is hot, add the sliced mushrooms. Sauté the mushrooms until they are tender and slightly browned. You can also season them with salt and pepper to taste. This step can be done ahead of time, and the sautéed mushrooms can be set aside until you are ready to add them to the stew.
Adding Mushrooms to the Stew:
When your beef stew is almost ready, and you are about 15-30 minutes away from serving, it's time to add the mushrooms. Simply stir the sautéed mushrooms into the stew, ensuring they are partially submerged in the liquid. You can also add other ingredients at this point, such as fresh herbs like thyme, rosemary, or oregano, to enhance the flavour.
Final Steps:
After adding the mushrooms, continue cooking the stew for the remaining time. Taste the stew and adjust the seasoning as needed. If the stew becomes too thick, you can thin it out by adding water or beef broth. Finally, serve the stew while it's still hot, and enjoy the delicious combination of tender beef and earthy mushrooms!
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Use small portobello mushrooms
Portobello mushrooms are a great addition to a beef stew, providing a savoury complement to the dish and allowing for a healthier stew that uses less beef without losing its "meatiness".
To prepare the mushrooms, start by washing them and trimming the stems. Depending on their size, cut the mushrooms into halves or quarters. Small portobello mushrooms can be left whole, especially if you want them to maintain their shape and texture in the stew.
When adding the mushrooms to your stew, there are a few methods you can use. One option is to sauté them before adding them to the stew pot. Sautéing the mushrooms will enhance their flavour and texture. Heat some oil in a pan and add the mushrooms, cooking until they are tender and lightly browned. You can also add other ingredients to the pan, such as onions, garlic, or other vegetables, to build more flavour.
Another approach is to add the mushrooms directly to the stew pot. If you choose this method, simply place the prepared mushrooms into the stew after the other ingredients have been added. The mushrooms will cook alongside the other components, absorbing the flavours of the broth.
It is recommended to add the mushrooms towards the end of the cooking process to ensure they retain their texture and flavour. This way, they will not overcook and become mushy.
- Start by searing your beef cubes to lock in flavour and create a nice brown crust. Remove the beef from the pot and set aside.
- In the same pot, add a small amount of oil and sauté your choice of aromatic vegetables, such as onions, celery, and carrots, along with garlic and herbs like thyme.
- Deglaze the pot with red wine, scraping up any caramelized bits from the bottom.
- Return the beef to the pot, along with any accumulated juices.
- Add beef stock or broth and bring the stew to a simmer.
- After the stew has been simmering for about an hour, add your small portobello mushrooms, leaving them whole or halved depending on their size.
- Continue simmering for another 30 minutes to an hour, or until the beef is tender.
- Taste the stew and adjust seasoning with salt and pepper as needed.
- If you wish to thicken the stew, create a slurry by mixing flour with some of the stew broth, then gradually add it to the pot.
- Serve the stew with your choice of sides, such as crusty bread or gnocchi.
Feel free to experiment with additional ingredients and spices to suit your taste preferences. Enjoy your hearty and flavourful beef stew with portobello mushrooms!
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Frequently asked questions
You can add mushrooms to beef stew by first sautéing them in butter or oil until they are tender and slightly brown. Then, add them to the stew.
You can add the mushrooms at the beginning of the cooking process, or towards the end. If you add them at the beginning, they will have a softer texture and a more blended flavour. If you add them towards the end, they will retain more of their individual texture and flavour.
You can use a variety of mushrooms in beef stew, such as button mushrooms, cremini mushrooms, portobello mushrooms, or baby bella mushrooms.
You should sauté the mushrooms for around 5-8 minutes, or until they are tender and slightly brown.
Some popular ingredients to add to a beef and mushroom stew include onions, garlic, thyme, rosemary, red wine, beef stock, and potatoes.
