Hearty Stew with Mint Sour Cream
Ingredients
1 lb. stew beef
2 cups beef broth
1/4 tsp salt
1/8 tsp pepper
1 bay leafÂ
3 medium potatoes, peeled and cut into 1 inch chunks
2 medium onions, cut into wedges
1 1/2 cups sliced carrots
1/2 tsp dried thyme, crushed
1/2 tsp dried basil, crushedÂ
1/2 cup beer or water, plus 2 tsp all-purpose flour
1/3 cup sour creamÂ
2 tsp snipped fresh mint
Preparation
In a large saucepan or Dutch oven, brown stew beef in small batches in 1 tablespoon of oil. Once all are browned, add broth, salt, pepper, and bay leaf. Bring to a boil; then reduce heat. Cover and simmer for 1 hour or more or until stew is tender and breaks apart. Skim off extra fat. Add potatoes, onions, carrots, thyme and basil. Cover pan and simmer for 30 minutes or until vegetables are tender. Discard bay leaf.
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In a small bowl, stir beer or water into flour. Stir into meat mixture. Cook and stir until thickened and bubbly. Cook 1 minute more.
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To serve, stir together the sour cream and mint. Dollop each serving with the cream mixture.