country beef stew with a secret ingredient

Recipe by
Pamela Rappaport
The Villages, FL

I always wondered why my mother's beef stew was more flavorful than ones I had elsewhere. Once I started looking at other recipes I realized that most people do not use ketchup. Yes, that's my secret ingredient! Give it a try.

yield 6 serving(s)
prep time 30 Min
cook time 8 Hr
method Slow Cooker Crock Pot

Ingredients For country beef stew with a secret ingredient

  • 2 lb
    beef stew meat
  • 1
    onion, chopped
  • 1 Tbsp
    flour
  • 4 Tbsp
    oil
  • 1 lb
    carrots cut into 2 inch pieces
  • 1 lb
    white potatoes, cut into large chunks
  • 3 stalk
    celery, cut into 2 inch pieces
  • 1 can
    diced tomatoes
  • 1/2 c
    ketchup (the secret ingredient!)
  • 3/4 c
    peas, frozen petite
  • 1/2 tsp
    accent
  • 1
    salt and pepper
  • 1 c
    water

How To Make country beef stew with a secret ingredient

  • 1
    You can either cook this in a crock pot or simmer on the stove. I cook it for about 8 hours on low in the crock pot. It needs to simmer on the stove for about 90 minutes or until the meat is tender.
  • 2
    Heat oil in a skillet and brown the meat in batches. Move it to the crock pot or dutch oven as you go. When the meat is all browned, add the flour to the skillet. Add more oil if needed. Brown as if for gravy. Add cold water and mix well. Pour over meat.
  • 3
    Add everything else to the pot except the peas.
  • 4
    Mix and cover.
  • 5
    Crock pot - Cook on low for 8 hours. Add the peas and let them heat through. Enjoy!
  • 6
    Stove top - Bring to a boil and reduce to a simmer. Cook until meat is tender, 1 1/2 to 2 hrs. Add more water if needed. Stir in the peas and let heat through. Enjoy!

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