Hungarian Beef Stew

Yael

Sun, Sep 12 2004, 2:23 am

This hearty beef stew can be served with bread to make a wholesome meal
Servings: 8

Ingredients:
3 pounds lean beef stew meat (top round), cut into 2-inch cubes
- - salt to taste
- - freshly ground black pepper
- - flour for dredging
2 tablespoons vegetable oil
2 small yellow onions, diced
1 red bell pepper, seeded and chopped
1 yellow bell pepper, seeded and chopped
1 green bell pepper, seeded and chopped
2 cups quartered mushrooms
4 cloves garlic, minced
2 bay leaves
3 tablespoons sweet, Hungarian paprika
1 cup dry red wine
2 cups diced, canned tomatoes
4 cups low-sodium beef broth

Directions
1. Season the beef with salt and pepper. Dredge it in flour and shake off the excess.
2. Heat the oil in a heavy soup pot or Dutch oven over medium-high heat. Sear the meat on all sides. Adjust the heat so that the meat browns well, but does not burn.
3. Add the onions, peppers, mushrooms, garlic and bay leaf and cook 2 minutes more. Sprinkle the paprika into the pot and stir well to combine.
4. Add the red wine. Stir with a wooden spoon to release any caramelized bits that may be stuck to the bottom of the pan and cook until the wine is almost completely evaporated.
5. Add the tomatoes and the beef broth and bring to a boil. Adjust the heat so that the stew simmers and cook until the meat is tender, about 1 hour.
6. Adjust the seasoning with salt and pepper, remove the bay leaves and serve in a deep tureen.