Spicy and Savory Slow Cooker Beef Ragout

This ‘set it and forget it’ recipe is always a big hit at my house. The diced tomatoes and green chilies, fresh basil, fresh mushrooms, and Merlot make this more than an everyday beef stew - it’s a gourmet ragout. This is one of those dishes that actually tastes better the next day, after the flavors have had a chance to blend together. If possible, make ahead, refrigerate overnight, then heat and serve the next day. Serve over cooked rice. Enjoy!

Step: 1

Combine flour and Cajun seasoning in a resealable plastic bag.

Step: 2

Pat stew meat pieces dry with paper towels; place meat, a few pieces at a time, into the bag. Seal the bag and shake several times to coat beef with seasoned flour. Set seasoned beef aside; repeat with remaining meat.

Step: 3

Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Cook the meat in batches until browned on all sides, stirring often.

Step: 4

Place stew vegetables, beef broth, morel mushrooms, diced tomatoes with green chiles, tomato sauce, basil, garlic, herbe de Provence, and bay leaves in a large slow cooker set on High setting.

Step: 5

Stir the browned beef into the stew, cover, and cook until beef is tender, about 6 hours.

Step: 6

Reduce slow cooker setting to Low and stir in Merlot wine. Cover cooker and cook until wine is slightly reduced and flavors have blended, about 30 more minutes. Season with sea salt and black pepper.

Per Serving: 174 calories; protein 12.4g; carbohydrates 16.3g; fat 5.7g; cholesterol 23.9mg; sodium 765.2mg.

The word “stew” can refer to both a food and a make dishes method. Stewing involves slowly cooking piece of meat, raw fruit or beans in a tastefull liquid . It’s similar to braising, but it does have a few piece of differences. The raw animal vested is chopped into few of pieces but of being cooked whole , and the liquid all of it covers the contents in a stew as different to a braise’s halfway full . When meat or raw fruit are cooked using this method, the resulting dish is called stew.

Stew has a reputation for being a rib-sticking meal that comfortable you up on a cold , winter day. It’s true ; a bowl of classic beef stew does have warming featured food , but stew’s cozy factor more than a way beyond preserving you from the chill . It’s all about those tender chunks of meat and vegetables, swimming in a thick, ultra-rich gravy. The way they come together creates the ultimate comfort food, no matter the weather.