Slow-Cooked Red Wine Beef Stew

A rich French-style beef stew with red wine and vegetables. You'll love the intense flavor and it's so easy to make in a Dutch oven, low and slow! Serve this stew with wide egg noodles or simply with crusty bread and a salad.

Prep Time 25 mins | Cook Time 2 hrs 30 mins | Total Time 2 hrs 55 mins | Servings 6 servings

• 3 pounds (1350 g) beef chuck roast
• Kosher salt
• 3 tablespoons (45 g) extra-virgin olive oil
• 3 shallots, finely chopped
• 2 tablespoons (30 g) all-purpose flour
• 1 tablespoon (15 g) tomato paste
• 4 whole garlic cloves, peeled
• Black pepper
• 1 1/2 cups (375 ml) hearty red wine, such as syrah, merlot or Cotes-du-Rhone
• 1 – 2 cups (250-500 ml) beef or chicken broth or water
• 2 bay leaves and 4 sprigs each thyme and rosemary, tied into a bundle with string
• 2 large carrots, peeled and sliced into 1-inch chunks
• 1 cup chopped leeks
• 1 fennel bulb, stems and tough outer layers trimmed, sliced into 1/2-inch wedges
• 1 tablespoon (15 ml) extra-virgin olive oil
• Chopped fresh Italian parsley
• Grated fresh orange zest, optional

2. Heat oven to 350 degrees with the rack in the center.
3. Trim the beef of excess fat and slice into 3-inch chunks. Season the beef evenly with 2 teaspoons salt.
4. Heat the oil in a large Dutch oven or heavy casserole over medium-high heat. Sear the beef in batches until browned. Remove to a platter.
5. Lower the heat to medium and add the shallot to the pot. Cook 5 minutes, stirring every now and then, until it’s softened. Return the beef to the pot and sprinkle with flour. Stir in the tomato paste, garlic, wine, 1 teaspoon salt and 15 turns of the pepper mill.
6. Bring to a simmer, then add enough broth to just cover the beef. Toss in the herb bundle. Cover the pot with a sheet of parchment or foil, then top with the pot lid.
7. Place in the oven to braise for 2 1/2 – 3 hours. The cooking liquid will be slightly reduced and the meat should fall apart when prodded with a fork.
8. Put the carrots, leeks and fennel in a large skillet with 1/4 cup water, 1 tablespoon extra-virgin olive oil and 1/2 teaspoon salt. Place over high heat until the water boils. Cover and lower heat to a simmer. Cook until the vegetables are tender but still colorful, about 10 minutes.
9. Just before serving, stir the vegetables into the stew. Taste for seasoning, adding more salt and pepper as desired. Sprinkle with the parsley and about a teaspoon fresh orange zest. Serve the stew over wide egg noodles, parmesan polenta or with crusty bread alongside.

• Use a 5-6 quart capacity pot.
• When reheating, add a bit more stock or water to the stew as the sauce will thicken when refrigerated.

source: https://familystylefood.com/provencal-beef-stew-slow-food-french-style/