When I was growing up in the 80’s beef stew was one dish that my mother made sparingly and when she did it was always when we were camping in Kakadu. I supposed despite being considered slow comfort and cheap food back then we were surviving off buffalo meat, crab and barra {a child of the NT} and beef was a luxury when interest rates were 22%. Those stews when we did have them would be so flavoursome and meaty that I would sit by the camp fire in anticipation for it to be ready. It was also one of the few meals I would go back for seconds for. Ever since I have been trying to recreate that recipe but I have decided unless I can transport the smells and sounds that were my childhood back into my kitchen its just not going to be possible. Eating a bowl of stew whilst watching the movements of a croc whilst he sat and watched your own will never be possible in a kitchen settled deep in the mountains of FNQ.
So I have searched high and low experimenting asking mum for her secrets only to be told a cast iron pot is all I will need. This recipe is one of three combined cooking in a cast iron pot is opitional.
Beef Stew.
What you will need:
1 kilo of stew beef
2 tablespoons vegetable oil
2 cups water
1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
1 clove garlic, peeled
1 or 2 bay leaves
1 medium onion, sliced
1 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon sugar
1/2 teaspoon pepper
1/2 teaspoon paprika
Dash ground allspice
3 large carrots, sliced
3 ribs celery, chopped
1/2 cup of frozen peas
2 tablespoons cornstarch
1 tablespoon of tomato paste
How to:
Chop meat into cubes and cover with corn starch.
Brown meat in hot oil.
Add water, Worcestershire sauce, garlic, bay leaves, onion, salt, sugar, pepper, paprika, and allspice.
Cover and simmer 1 1/2 hours.
Add carrots and celery. Cover and cook 30 to 40 minutes longer. Add tomato paste and halfa cup of peas in the last ten minutes of cooking.
Serve with mash or crusty bread.
xxDeb
{Image with thanks to here}
Is there one recipe from your childhood that you just have trouble recreating?
