INGREDIENTS
6 oz bacon, chopped into 1/4″ strips
2 Tbsp olive oil, to sautee
2 lbs beef stew meat, (or beef chuck cut into 1″ pieces)
2 1/2 tsp sea salt, or to taste, divided
1 1/2 tsp black pepper, freshly ground, divided
1/4 cup all-purpose flour
2 cups good dry red wine
1 lb mushrooms, thickly sliced
4 carrots, peeled and cut into 1/2″ thick pieces
1 medium yellow onion, diced
4 garlic cloves, minced
1 Tbsp tomato paste
4 cups low sodium beef broth , or beef stock
2 bay leaves
1/2 tsp dried thyme
1 lb small potatoes, new potatoes, or fingerling, halved or quartered
INSTRUCTIONS
In a large, oven-proof pot, sauté bacon over medium heat until golden brown and fat is released. Using a slotted spoon, remove bacon to a separate bowl.
While bacon is cooking, place beef in a large mixing bowl and season with 1 1/2 tsp salt and 1 tsp black pepper. Sprinkle beef with 1/4 cup flour and toss to combine and evenly coat beef. Transfer beef in 2 batches into the hot bacon fat and cook over med/high heat, until beef is browned (3 min per side). Add olive oil if needed. Transfer browned beef to the bowl with bacon.
Add 2 cups wine to the pot and bring to a boil, scraping the bottom to deglaze the pot. Add sliced mushrooms and simmer over medium heat about 10 min.
Meanwhile, heat a large non-stick skillet over medium/high heat and add 2 Tbsp olive oil. Add sliced carrots, diced onion, and 4 chopped garlic cloves, and saute 4 min. Add 1 Tbsp tomato paste and saute another minute. Transfer veggies to the soup pot.
Add 4 cups beef broth, 2 bay leaves, 1/2 tsp dried thyme, 1 tsp salt, and 1/2 tsp pepper. Return beef and bacon to the pot then add potatoes. Stir to combine and make sure potatoes are submerged in liquid. Cover with lid and bake at 325ËšF oven for 1 hour and 45 min.