Beef stew with noodles
How to make it part of a healthy diet
Beef stew can be part of a healthy diet. As a beginner dieter, I made the mistake of eating only chicken dishes. However, beef is also very high in protein, and if you choose a good cut, such as beef brisket, it is not that fatty. Follow my recipe and make your own tender beef stew!
What kind of meat should you use?
Beef stew can be made from shank or shoulder. Since I tried beef topside (UK) / top round (US), I’ve been using it to make the most tender beef stew. What’s more, this meat isn’t particularly fatty.
What makes good beef?
In general, beef is characterized by its rich red color, fine grain, and marbled texture. Fresh meat has a pleasant smell. It is firm to the touch, elastic, and springs back when pressed with a finger. The cut surface is shiny.
Where to buy meat?
It is no coincidence that they say cheap meat has thin gravy. When making beef stew, don’t skimp on the meat! Find an excellent butcher! The basis of beef stew is high-quality meat. Unfortunately, in my experience, the meat sold in retail chains in Hungary is of poor quality. Beef tenderloin is a rarity. So where should you buy meat? Only from a good butcher! This is something you have to experience for yourself. Find the best butcher in your area! I am willing to travel an hour to get the best meat.
Does beef stew fit into a healthy diet?
Beef broth is rich in vitamins and minerals. Beef is fattier and more substantial than poultry, but if you need strength and energy (for example, if you are ill or feeling weak), then a long-simmered beef broth is the best choice. It strengthens the immune system and is also good for muscles and joints.
e-book (pdf)
Vagány Receptek
Gyakori kérdés nálad is hogy ,,mit főzzek ma?” Ez az e-book segít, hogy mindig tudd a választ.
Beef stew helps build muscle thanks to its protein content. We can make it healthier by not following the traditional Hungarian cooking methods. So instead of fat, we use olive oil to prepare it. Instead of tarhonya or galuska, I recommend using pasta made from durum wheat.
Eat a serving of pickled vegetables with it (I had a vitamin salad with cabbage and carrots, but pickled cucumbers are also good), as the acids help digest fats and carbohydrates.
I like to eat it with a spoonful of sour cream.
Beef stew with noodles
Ingredients
- 400 g beef topside (UK) / top round (US)
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 1 onion
- 2 cloves garlic
- 1 smaller Hungarian sweet yellow pepper
- 1 tomato
- 2 teaspoons sweet red paprika powder (Hungarian)
- 1 teaspoon Hungarian mild paprika paste (for example, the Piros Arany brand) (I have a product from Kalocsa, but Piros Arany is also good—if you like it stronger, choose the spicy one instead of the mild one)
- salt
- ground black pepper
- water
Side dish
- 4 x 70 g durum fusilli pasta
Instructions
- Peel and dice the onion. Set aside.Peel and chop the garlic. Set aside.Dice the tomatoes and peppers. Set aside on a separate plate.Cut the meat into cubes of about 1-1.5 cm. It is important to cut the cubes into equal sizes so that they cook evenly.
- Heat the olive oil in a covered pan and add the onion. When it is golden brown, remove from the heat and sprinkle with paprika. Stir.
- Add the meat. Stir. Pour in enough water to just cover it. Season with salt and pepper. Add the garlic, paprika, tomatoes, and paprika cream. Return to the stove and cook for about 2 hours or until tender. Cook with the lid only partially on so that the steam can escape.
- Stir several times during the 2 hours of cooking and add more water. Allow the water to boil away completely once or twice, then add more.
- When serving, cook durum fusilli pasta to go with it.
Calories and macros
Did you like it? There’s more where that came from. 🙂 Sign up for my newsletter!
