Darleen’s Easy Stew is a comforting, traditional one-pot dish that captures the warmth of home cooking. Combining tender chunks of beef, hearty root vegetables, and a simple tomato base, it delivers balanced flavor with minimal effort. This recipe epitomizes classic mid-century American simplicity, straightforward ingredients, slow-cooked comfort, and nostalgic appeal. Often shared between families and neighbors, it’s beloved for its wholesome taste and easy preparation, offering a taste of rustic kitchen heritage where slow oven roasting coaxes depth and heartiness from every bite.
Equipment
- 1 Large baking dish
Ingredients
- 1 ½ lbs stew meat or roast (cut in 1" pieces)
- 2 stalks celery (chopped)
- 4 carrots (cut to bite size)
- 3 potatoes (medium, cubed)
- 2 onions (chopped, chopped)
- 1 can tomato soup
- ½ cup water
- 2 tsp salt
- ½ tsp basil leaves
- 1 tbsp dried parsley
- ½ tsp oregano
- pepper (to taste)
Instructions
Step 1: Preheat Oven
- Preheat oven to 300°F (150°C).
Step 2: Prepare Ingredients
- Cut meat into chunks, and chop celery, carrots, potatoes, and onions into bite-size pieces.
Step 3: Combine Ingredients
- In a large oven-safe pot or Dutch oven, combine meat, vegetables, tomato soup, and water.
Step 4: Season
- Add salt, basil, parsley, oregano, and pepper. Stir gently to coat ingredients evenly.
Step 5: Bake Slowly
- Cover and bake in a 300°F oven for 3½ hours. Stir once or twice during cooking for even tenderness.
Step 6: Serve
- Serve hot with bread or rolls for a hearty meal.
Tips
- Substitute tomato soup with diced tomatoes for chunkier texture.
- Add frozen peas in the last 30 minutes for color and sweetness.
- For richer flavor, brown the meat before baking.
- Use a slow cooker on low for 6–7 hours as a modern variation.
- Serve over rice or noodles for a more filling meal.
Nutrition
Serving: 1.5cupsCalories: 330kcalCarbohydrates: 28gProtein: 28gFat: 12gSaturated Fat: 4gPolyunsaturated Fat: 1gMonounsaturated Fat: 5gCholesterol: 70mgSodium: 720mgPotassium: 1050mgFiber: 5gSugar: 8gVitamin A: 7200IUVitamin C: 18mgCalcium: 65mgIron: 3.2mg
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