Description
A cozy fall meal featuring rich apple-cider spiced stew served over creamy mashed potatoes — perfect for crisp autumn evenings.
Ingredients
- 2 lb beef stew meat (cut into 1-inch cubes)
- Salt & freshly ground black pepper, to taste
- 2 Tbsp olive oil (or butter + oil mix)
- 1 large onion, chopped
- 2 medium carrots, peeled & chopped
- 2 ribs celery, chopped (optional)
- 2 cups apple cider (or apple juice)
- 1 cup beef broth
- 2–3 medium potatoes, peeled and chopped for mash
- ¼ cup milk (or cream) for mash
- ¼ cup sour cream (optional) for mash
- 1 cup sharp cheddar cheese, shredded (optional) for mash
- 3 Tbsp chopped fresh chives (or green onions) for mash garnish
Instructions
- Pre-heat oven to 375 °F (190 °C) if finishing stew in oven.
- Heat olive oil in a large pot or oven-safe Dutch oven over medium-high heat. Season the beef with salt and pepper and brown in batches until nicely seared. Remove and set aside.
- In the same pot, add chopped onion and carrots (and celery if using). Cook ~4-5 minutes until softened.
- Return the beef to the pot, sprinkle lightly with flour (about 1 Tbsp) if you’d like a thicker sauce, and stir for 1-2 minutes to coat.
- Pour in the apple cider and beef broth, scraping the bottom of the pot to release browned bits. Bring to a simmer.
- Cover the pot and either move it into the oven for about 1 – 1½ hours until beef is tender, or simmer on the stovetop over low heat.
- While the stew is cooking, boil the potatoes in salted water until very tender. Drain, then mash with milk, sour cream (if using), cheese (if using), and salt & pepper to taste. Stir in the chopped chives.
- When the beef is tender and the sauce rich, remove from oven or stovetop. Adjust seasoning with additional salt, pepper, or a splash more cider if you like.
- Serve a generous scoop of the mashed potatoes on each plate, then ladle the apple-cider beef stew over the top. Garnish with additional chives or fresh herbs if desired.
Notes
- You can substitute pork or chicken for the beef for a lighter version.
- Use any good quality apple cider for the richest flavor — the sweetness and acidity help balance the rich meat. :contentReference[oaicite:0]{index=0}
- If you don’t have oven-safe pot, you can complete the stew fully on the stovetop.
- For variety, add diced apples in the last 15 minutes of cooking for extra autumn flavor. :contentReference[oaicite:1]{index=1}
- The mashed potatoes can be made ahead and kept warm while the stew finishes.
- Prep Time: 20 mins
- Cook Time: 1 hr 30 mins
- Category: Main Dish
- Method: Stewing & Mashing
- Cuisine: Comfort / Fall