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Dad's Favourite Quick Beef Stew

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Submitted by nicki29

Quick beef stew uses canned vegetables and pre-cooked beef cubes warmed in beef gravy with onion and bay in the microwave. Ready in 15 minutes for a budget-friendly weeknight dinner.

YIELD

2 servings

PREP

15 min

COOK

15 min

READY

30 min

This is a microwave-era pantry stew, the kind of dinner that came out of 1980s microwave cookbooks aimed at busy parents. Every shortcut is here: canned carrots, canned tiny potatoes, canned green peas, cubed pre-cooked beef, and prepared beef gravy. None of it is fancy, but it’s hot, hearty, and on the table faster than ordering pizza.

The one fresh ingredient that makes a real difference is the diced onion, microwaved first in oil until tender. That brief sauté brings out the onion’s natural sweetness and gives the otherwise-canned stew an actual home-cooked flavor base. Without it, the dish tastes flat and out-of-the-can; with it, you get something that passes for slow-simmered stew.

Add the canned peas only at the end. Bright green peas overcooked turn olive-drab and lose their pop. The 2 to 3 minute final warm-through is plenty.

Pro Tips

  • Drain the canned vegetables thoroughly before adding to prevent watering down the gravy.
  • Pre-cooked roast beef from the deli, leftover roast, or canned roast beef all work for the meat component.
  • Stir occasionally during microwave heating; microwaves heat unevenly and stew has a tendency to scorch on the edges.
  • Taste and re-season at the end. Canned ingredients vary wildly in salt content.

Variations

  • Use frozen mixed vegetables in place of canned for brighter color and better texture.
  • Add 1 teaspoon of Worcestershire sauce for extra savory depth.
  • Stir in 2 tablespoons of red wine before microwaving for a more grown-up stew flavor.

Ingredients

2 30
TABLESPOONS ML VEGETABLE OIL
1 1
MEDIUM MEDIUM ONION
finely chopped
1 1
EACH BAY LEAF *
8 231.2
OUNCES ML/G CARROTS
canned, sliced, drained
16 462.4
OUNCES ML/G POTATOES
canned, tiny, drained, white
½ 2.5
TEASPOON ML SALT
0.6
TEASPOON ML BLACK PEPPER
¼ 1.3
TEASPOON ML CELERY SALT
2 473
CUPS ML BEEF GRAVY *
2 473
CUPS ML BEEF
cubed, cooked *
8 231.2
OUNCES ML/G GREEN PEAS
canned, drained

Directions

In a deep, 2-quart, heat-resistant, non-metallic casserole, heat oil in Microwave Oven 2 minutes.

Add onion and heat, uncovered, in Microwave Oven 3 minutes or until tender.

Stir occasionally.

Add bay leaf, carrots, potatoes, salt, pepper, celery salt, beef gravy and beef; stir to combine.

Heat, covered, in Microwave Oven 6 to 7 minutes or until almost heated.

Taste and correct seasoning, if necessary, with additional salt and pepper.

Remove bay leaf and discard.

Add peas and heat, covered, in Microwave Oven 2 to 3 minutes or until heated through.

* not incl. in nutrient facts Arrow up button

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Nutrition Facts

Serving Size 121g (4.3 oz)
Amount per Serving
Calories 126 48% from fat
 % Daily Value *
Total Fat 7g 10%
Saturated Fat 1g 4%
Trans Fat 0g
Cholesterol 0mg 0%
Sodium 530mg 22%
Total Carbohydrate 5g 5%
Dietary Fiber 3g 12%
Sugars g
Protein 4g
Vitamin A 109% Vitamin C 14%
Calcium 2% Iron 3%
* based on a 2,000 calorie diet How is this calculated?
Low in Saturated Fat, Low Cholesterol, Cholesterol-Free, Trans-fat Free, Good source of fiber
 
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