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The ultimate comfort dish for chilly nights!
Tender beef, rich broth, and soft, cloud-like dumplings—this stew is the definition of soul food.

When you’re craving a dinner that wraps you up like a blanket, this recipe delivers. With melt-in-your-mouth chunks of beef, rustic vegetables, and pillowy dumplings floating on top, it’s the kind of meal you’ll want to eat straight from the pot, curled up by the fire.

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Ingredients

For the Beef Stew:

• 2 lbs beef stew meat (chuck or brisket), cut into 1-inch chunks
• 2 tbsp olive oil
• 1 medium onion, chopped
• 3 cloves garlic, minced
• 4 cups beef broth
• 2 cups water
• 3 large carrots, peeled and sliced
• 3 medium potatoes, peeled and diced
• 1 cup frozen peas
• 1 tsp dried thyme
• 1 tsp dried rosemary
• Salt and pepper, to taste
• 2 tbsp all-purpose flour (optional, for thickening)

For the Dumplings:

• 1 cup all-purpose flour
• 1 tsp baking powder
• ¼ tsp salt
• 1 tbsp butter, softened
• ½ cup milk
• 1 tbsp fresh parsley, chopped (optional)

For Garnish:

• Fresh parsley, chopped

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Instructions

Prepare the Beef Stew:

1. In a large pot or Dutch oven, heat the olive oil over medium-high heat.
2. Brown the beef in batches, seasoning each batch with salt and pepper. Set the browned meat aside.
3. In the same pot, sauté the onion and garlic until soft and golden, about 5 minutes.
4. (Optional) Sprinkle flour over the onion mixture and stir for 1 minute to create a light roux—this will give your stew a thicker, silky texture.
5. Slowly pour in the beef broth and water, whisking to remove any lumps.
6. Return the beef to the pot. Stir in the carrots, potatoes, thyme, and rosemary.
7. Bring to a simmer, cover, and let it cook for 1.5 to 2 hours, or until the beef is fork-tender.
8. Stir in the peas during the last 5 minutes of cooking, and adjust seasoning to taste.

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Make the Fluffy Dumplings:

1. In a bowl, whisk together the flour, baking powder, and salt.
2. Add the butter, and use your fingers or a fork to blend until the mixture resembles crumbs.
3. Stir in the milk until a soft, sticky dough forms.
4. Drop spoonfuls of dough onto the surface of the simmering stew, spacing them slightly apart.
5. Cover the pot and let the dumplings steam for 15–20 minutes, until they puff up and become fluffy (don’t lift the lid early—let them steam fully!).

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Serve & Enjoy!

Ladle the hearty stew into deep bowls, making sure everyone gets a generous helping of beef, veggies, and dumplings. Garnish with a sprinkle of fresh parsley for a pop of color.

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Serving Suggestions:

• Serve with a side of crusty bread to soak up all the flavorful broth
• Pair with a glass of red wine or a cold cider
• Freeze leftovers for a no-fuss meal on a busy night

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Prep Time: 20 minutes
Cook Time: 2 hours
Total Time: 2 hours 20 minutes
Serves: 6
Calories (est): ~430 kcal per serving

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Craving cozy? This stew has your name written all over it.
Save it, share it, and let it warm your soul!
#ComfortFood #BeefStewLove #FluffyDumplingsMagic

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