Beef and Gnocchi Stew

Beef stew gets a makeover with gnocchi! This Beef and Gnocchi Stew is a hearty and comforting meal that your entire family will love!

    

One of the best jobs I have ever had was as an usher at a concert arena after I graduated from high school. I continued to work there every summer while attending college. It was a fun job with lasting memories.

Needless to say, I have been to many concerts. There are a few performers I have seen about a dozen times. Tom Petty was one of them. He performed multiple shows when he was in town. From what I remember, all his concerts started with the same song, “Breakdown”. It had such a beautiful melodic guitar intro that resonated throughout the arena. When you hear that riff, you know that a Tom Petty concert has just begun.

Sadly, we just lost him this week, but I want to thank him for being part of the fabric of my life that I fondly look back on. RIP.

Now, about this stew…it’s meaty, hearty, satisfying, and comforting, all of the things I’m looking for in a fall and winter dish. When the weather is cooler and the days are shorter, slow-cooked meat, simmering on the stovetop is what I crave. It’s early October, but I have made this beef stew twice already.

There is a secret ingredient that I like to add to my beef stew—molasses. It adds richness, a depth of flavor, and deepens the color. Molasses is an underused ingredient that I am trying to incorporate more into my cooking. It is a wonderful flavoring agent in meat dishes.

I love the convenience of packaged gnocchi. Anything that is fuss-free and cooks up in no time is a keeper in my kitchen! Gnocchi is potato-based, and using it in place of regular potatoes is an updated and delicious way to switch up beef stew. I add it to the last 10 minutes of cooking time. Then it’s ready to enjoy!

Having mentioned concerts, I would like to close this post with an acknowledgment of this week’s national tragedy. I feel remiss by not doing so. My thoughts and prayers go out to all those who were affected. I hope someday we will be able to live in unity, harmony, and without fear of senseless acts of violence.

Wishing you a safe and enjoyable rest of the week, friends!

Recommended supplies:

(Affiliate links. The products I recommend are either what I use, are on my wish list, or come highly rated.)

• This dutch oven is perfect for making this stew, and it’s so pretty, you can bring it straight to the table.
• A wooden spatula is one of my favorite kitchen tools. It is ideal for cooking on surfaces that scratch easily too!
• Molasses is this stew’s secret ingredient.
• Ready made gnocchi is a great convenience ingredient. They are tender and delicious!

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Beef and Gnocchi Stew

Author: Thao | In Good Flavor Cooking Method:Oven Baked / Roasted Cuisine:American Courses:Main Dish Recipe Keys: High Protein C Carbohydrate

Difficulty:BeginnerPrep time: 10 minutesCook time:2 hours 30 minutesTotal time:2 hours 40 minutesServings:4 Servings

Description

Beef stew gets a makeover with gnocchi! This Beef and Gnocchi Stew is a hearty and comforting meal that your entire family will love!

Ingredients

• 1-2 tbsp. oil
• 1 1/2 – 1 3/4 lb. beef chuck, cut into 1 1/2-inch cubes
• 2 tbsp. flour
• 1 (14.5 oz.) can fat free & lower sodium beef broth
• 2 tbsp. tomato paste
• 2 tbsp. molasses
• 1 small onion, diced (about 1 1/2 up) 
• 2 cloves garlic, minced
• 2 medium carrots, peeled and cut into 1/2 ” chunks 
• 1 tsp. salt
• 1/4 tsp. black pepper
• 1 6 to 7-inch sprig fresh rosemary
• 4 to 5 sprigs fresh thyme
• 1 pkg. (1 lb.) ready to use gnocchi (I use Pastene)

Instructions

1. Preheat a 4-quart dutch oven or saucepan on medium.
2. Place beef chuck in a large bowl. Add flour. Toss to coat.
3. Add enough oil to cover the bottom of the dutch oven. Add half of the meat. Brown on all sides (about 5 minutes per batch), turning meat over to cook evenly. Transfer meat to a plate. Add oil if necessary to coat the bottom of the pan. Add the remaining meat and brown. Transfer to the plate.
4. Scrape and discard any large black chunks off the bottom of the pan. Add 1/3 cup beef broth. Use a wooden spatula to loosen up the bits. Add onion and garlic, stir, and cook for 2 minutes.
5. Pour in beef broth, tomato paste, and molasses, stirring to incorporate. Return meat and any juices back into the pan. Add salt, pepper, rosemary, and thyme. Allow to come to a boil. Cover and reduce heat to medium-low. Simmer, covered, for 1 hour.
6. Add carrots. Simmer, covered, for 50 minutes or until meat is fork tender. Stir in gnocchi. Simmer for 10 additional minutes or until gnocchi is tender and cooked through. Adjust seasoning to taste.
7. Before serving, remove thyme and rosemary stems.

Keywords:Beef Stew, Comforting Meal, Beef and Gnocchi Stew

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