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Lebanese Beef Stew

Lebanese beef stew simmers beef chuck in tomato sauce and broth with warm allspice and cinnamon until fork-tender. Carrots and peas finish the one-pot Dutch oven stew with a hearty, tender texture.
Prep Time 20 minutes
Cook Time 2 hours 50 minutes
Total Time 3 hours 10 minutes
Servings: 6 servings
Course: Dinner
Cuisine: Lebanese
Calories: 450

Ingredients
  

  • 2 lb beef chuck cut into 1-inch cubes
  • 1.5 tsp kosher salt
  • 0.5 tsp black pepper
  • 2 tbsp olive oil
  • 1 yellow onion medium, finely chopped
  • 4 cloves garlic minced
  • 2 tbsp tomato paste
  • 1 tsp ground allspice
  • 0.25 tsp ground cinnamon
  • 1 can (15 oz) tomato sauce
  • 3 cups beef broth
  • 1 bay leaf
  • 4 carrots medium, cut into 1/2-inch pieces
  • 1 bag (10 oz) frozen peas

Equipment

  • 1 6-quart Dutch oven

Method
 

  1. Pat the beef dry with paper towels and season it with the salt and pepper.
  2. Heat the olive oil in a 6-quart Dutch oven over medium-high heat.
  3. Brown the beef in batches, turning the pieces until browned on several sides, about 8 minutes per batch; transfer to a plate.
  4. Add the onion to the pot and cook over medium heat, stirring, until softened, about 5 minutes.
  5. Stir in the garlic and cook until fragrant, about 30 seconds.
  6. Add the tomato paste, allspice, and cinnamon, and stir for 1 minute.
  7. Add the tomato sauce, beef broth, bay leaf, and browned beef with any accumulated juices, then bring to a boil.
  8. Cover, reduce the heat to low, and simmer gently until the beef is nearly fork-tender, 1 1/2 to 2 hours.
  9. Stir in the carrots, cover, and simmer until they are tender and the beef is fork-tender, about 20 minutes.
  10. Stir in the frozen peas and simmer uncovered until hot and tender, 5 to 8 minutes.
  11. Remove and discard the bay leaf before serving.

Notes

For tender beef, keep the stew at a gentle simmer rather than letting it boil. Refrigerate leftovers for 3–4 days or freeze for up to 3 months. For a gluten-free option, use certified gluten-free beef broth.