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This Beef Stew with Tomato Sauce recipe is one of my easiest go to recipes! It’s made with super tender fillet cubes and a mouth watering tomato sauce that goes well with rice, fries, quinoa, couscous, you name it! We also love eating this dish with Lebanese pita bread.
This Beef Stew recipe is basically inspired by a basic beef stew recipe many Lebanese families make at home. It’s usually made with super tiny cuts of meat and cooked to perfection with a middle eastern spice called 7 spice. This spice is found in almost all Middle Eastern grocery stores around you. Just search for “middle eastern stores near me” on google and you will find one. You can also order the spice on amazon. Just search for “Lebanse seven spices”. If you don’t want to use this spice, you can make it with this spice Cavender’s All Purpose Greek Seasoning. I have been using this spice for many years and it’s delicious with everything.
HOW TO MAKE BEEF STEW WITH TOMATO SAUCE
As mentioned, this is one of the easiest recipes you will prepare. For the meat, I prefer to use beef fillet. But you can use a softer cut of meat like rib eye or some stew meat from the supermarket. If you are using an instant pot, you can used like brisket or chuck meat. I only use them if I am cooking this in an instant pot because they can tend to get harder when sautéed on the stove.
Start sautéing the onions until they get caramelized. Add in the beef cubes and continue cooking on high heat until the beef is golden brown.
Add in the tomatoes, garlic and mix well. Cover and cook on medium heat for 5 minutes so that the tomatoes get tender and mushy.
Add in the salt, spices, tomato paste and water. Cover again and cook for another 5 minutes on low heat.
The beef stew should be ready to eat! I love how easy this dish is and how it tastes as a final product using simple ingredients you have handy at home all the time.
WHAT TO SERVE WITH BEEF STEW
My husband and kids love this dish with French fries or Lebanese Pita bread. But I love having mine with quinoa because it’s a healthy dish so I might as well eat something healthy with it. I always make a bigger batch of the beef stew and quinoa when I am meal prepping so I can put them in my meal-prep menu for the week. You can also meal-prep this with cauliflower rice for a super low carb meal.
Can you make the beef stew spicy?
Absolutely! Just chop some habaneros or Jalapeño pepper and throw it in there while cooking. If you want to add a pepper flavor without making it spicy, you can use a little bit of green bell pepper. I find it pairs very well with this dish.
What kind of tomatoes should be used for beef stew?
You can use any fresh red tomato. The more red the tomato, the better. So be selective when you buy them. I love using grape tomatoes for most of my dishes that require tomatoes. I love the flavor and sweetness that comes with it. My next favorite option would be red vine tomatoes, and also plum tomatoes. I do not recommend using canned tomatoes. The fresh tomatoes work so much better for this recipe. Buying fresh tomatoes can sometimes run high compared to buying a can of tomatoes, but I love using fresh anytime I can. I get my tomatoes mostly from Sam’s Club, Costco or Walmart, the best value for what you get.
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OTHER RECIPES YOU MAY LIKE
- Lemon Garlic Butter Scallops
- Roasted Garlic Mushrooms
- Shrimp and Vegetable Skillet
- Greek Chickpea Salad
Beef Stew with Tomato Sauce
Ingredients
- 2 lbs. beef fillet
- 1 medium onion, finely diced
- carrots, peeled and cut into chunks
- 1 tbsp. tomato paste
- 2 cups grape tomatoes, diced
- 1 cup water
- 1 tsp. black pepper
- 1 tsp. 7 spice
- 1 tsp. salt, or more to taste
- 2 tbsp. vegetable or olive oil
- 2 cloves garlic, chopped
Instructions
- Cut the beef fillet into small, even cubes. Pat dry with paper towels if needed, and set aside while you prepare the remaining ingredients.
- Heat the oil in a large pot over high heat. Cook the beef for 2-3 minutes, turning as needed, until browned on the outside. Remove and set aside.
- Sauté the diced onion in the same pot until softened and lightly caramelized. Follow with the carrots and cook until they begin to soften.
- Season the carrots and onions with the garlic, black pepper, 7 spice, and salt. Cook briefly until fragrant and evenly coated.
- Spoon the tomato paste over the carrots and onions, then mix until evenly distributed. Cook briefly.
- Add the diced tomatoes and stir to combine. Cook until the tomatoes begin to soften and release their juices.
- Return the browned beef to the pot and combine well with the tomato and carrot mixture.
- Pour the water over the beef and vegetables, then mix well until the beef, carrots, and tomatoes are evenly combined.
- Remove the pot from the heat and serve warm with crusty bread for a complete meal.
Excellent! Easy to prepare.