2.5 lbs beef, cut into 1.5″ chunks
1 lb baby potatoes
4 carrots, roughly chopped
1 small onion, chopped
4 celery stalks, chopped
5-6 garlic cloves, chopped
1 12oz bottle of Guinness stout
2 cups beef broth
1/2 cup balsamic vinegar (or red wine vinegar)
1 Tbsp Worcestershire sauce
2 sprigs fresh rosemary (or 2 tsp dried)
7-8 sprigs fresh thyme (or 2 tsp dried)
3 bay leaves
Salt & pepper to taste
2 Tbsp cooking oil
2-3 Tbsp flour
In a skillet over medium-high heat, add oil then beef chunks. Give a quick sear to all sides. Don’t overcrowd, work in batches if necessary. In a slow cooker, add half of the vegetables, then add the meat, herbs, and chopped garlic before adding the remaining vegetables. Now it’s time to add all of the liquids. As a tip, everything should be submerged. If needed, add additional water or broth. Cover and cook that stew slow and low for 8 hours.
(Optional) Mix 2-3 tablespoons of flour with cold water. Gradually stir into cooked stew until you get your desired consistency.