Hearty Poblano Beef Stew Recipe | Little Spice Jar (2024)

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The heartiest bowl of poblano beef stew!This stew is simple but loaded with oh somuch goodness. It’s warm, it’s cozy, it’sperfect for chili evenings!

Hearty Poblano Beef Stew Recipe | Little Spice Jar (1)
Big, hearty bowls of poblano beef stew need just one thing to make them extra perfect. I can’t get it off my mind!Especially when crusty bread is involved.

Nothing too fancy here, kids!

Just a warm and comforting bowl of the smokiest poblano and chipotle pepper beef stew that’ll give your regular old beef stew a run for it’s money. Just a little facelift and you know, get the family excited again about basic food again. ??????

What I want you to know is that this beef stew is loaded with the same goodness we like from a good stew recipe. It’s got the potatoes, check. And the tender chunks of beef, check. Also, the flavorful hearty broth, check. But what it also has is these deliciously smoky poblano peppers that add the heartiest depth of flavor. Also, cooking something for a couple of hours and making it taste like it’s been slow simmered all day.

Cheater meals are my favorite!

Hearty Poblano Beef Stew Recipe | Little Spice Jar (2)Hearty Poblano Beef Stew Recipe | Little Spice Jar (3)

Let’s talk ingredients.

This all starts with a 3 huge poblano peppers. It is a POBLANO beef stew, after all. We’ll need them infresh form and start by giving them a good roasting. You can do this on the stove or in the oven. Either way works. I usually use a pair of tongs and just let them roast for about 5 minutes on the stove. If you don’t have a gas stove though, this can be a little tricky.

The other option is broiling the poblano peppers in the oven. It’ll take about the same time and the flavor is the same either way. But it’s important not to skip this step because here we get a chance to add in that good old smokey flavor. Also, that skin needs to go! So we’ll char the peppers and then cover them and let them steam so the skin peels right off.

Once that’s done we’ll start on the stew.

Hearty Poblano Beef Stew Recipe | Little Spice Jar (4)Hearty Poblano Beef Stew Recipe | Little Spice Jar (5)Like any good stew recipe, you want to start this poblano beef stew by searing the meat. This allows the meat to really hold in all the juices and be tender when you bite into it. And thisreally is the difference between a meh stew, and a ?stew. You can use any type of ‘stewing meat’ for this recipe, I just usually use a beef chuck roast. A top round or a bottom round will also work. Remember, the size of the meat is also important. I used 1-inch cubes, which cooked up nice and tender in about 1-1 ½ hours. If your meat is cut into larger pieces, it’ll take a little longer to get tender.

Once you brown the meat, you want to use the same pot to sauté the onions and garlic. Please! Oh, please, whatever you do, don’t switch to a new pot! All that brown char that develops when you brown the beef is gold in this recipe. When you sweat the onions, it’ll start loosening up and coating them.

Flavor, flavor, flavor.

Hearty Poblano Beef Stew Recipe | Little Spice Jar (6)

Once you’ve got the onions and garlic sautéed off, this becomes a pretty straightforwardbeef stew recipe. I added in a chopped chipotle pepper with a couple tablespoons of adobo sauce along with the beef broth, a can of fire-roasted tomatoes, and some smoky cumin. The chipotle peppers just build more smokiness and might I add that the potatoes are totally more delicious when stewed in chipotle pepper speckled stew? This is optional though as the chipotle peppers do pack on a quite a bit of heat. If spicer food isn’t your thing, you can leave out the adobo sauce or use a little adobo and leave out the chipotle pepper. And if you prefer super spicy food, feel free to add in more chipotle peppers to your liking!

Iusually serve up poblano beef stew with lots of toasty, crusty bread. This time around the hubby requested garlic bread with the stew! Not that the stew needed additional garlic or anything. Just the way we do things round here. I used a little olive oil, and toasted the bread. When it was hot outta the oven, I gave it a good rub with a whole garlic clove, sprinkled on a little salt, and freshly chopped parsley. SO GOOD.

This is totally doable, even if you’ve never made beef stew before. Did I mention it’s the perfect weeknight or weekend dinner that’s totally satisfying and will keep you all warm and cozy?

IT WILL.

Hearty Poblano Beef Stew Recipe | Little Spice Jar (7)

Yield: 6-7 servings

Hearty Poblano Beef Stew

Prep Time5 minutes

Cook Time2 hours

Total Time2 hours 5 minutes

The heartiest bowl of poblano beef stew! This stew is simple but loaded with oh so much goodness. It's warm, it's cozy, it's perfect for chili evenings!

Hearty Poblano Beef Stew Recipe | Little Spice Jar (8)

Ingredients

  • 3 large poblano peppers
  • 1 ½ pounds beef chuck roast (cut into 1- inch cubes) (see notes)
  • 1 tablespoon oil
  • 1 medium onion, chopped
  • 1 tablespoon garlic, minced
  • 1 ½ teaspoon ground cumin
  • 1 teaspoon dried oregano
  • 4 cups beef or chicken broth
  • 1 chipotle pepper (plus 1-2 tablespoons adobo sauce (omit to make it less spicy)
  • 1 (15 ounce) can fire-roasted tomatoes
  • 2 medium potatoes, cut into 1 inch cubes
  • 2 -3 tablespoons chopped cilantro

Instructions

  1. POBLANOS: Char the poblano peppers over an open flame for about 5 minutes, turning as necessary to char evenly. You can also broil them under the broiler in the oven for about 5-7 minutes turning a couple times until all the sides are charred. Place the peppers in a bowl and cover the bowl with foil or plastic wrap for 10-15 minutes. You can brown the meat for the stew while you wait. When the peppers are done, use a spoon to help scrape off the charred skin. Remove the stem, seeds, and ribs and discard. Dice the chilis into 1 inch pieces, set aside until ready to use in the stew.
  2. STEW: Heat the oil in a large dutch oven or stock pot over medium high heat. Sprinkle the beef with salt and pepper and brown in batches. Do not overcrowd the pot as the meat will steam rather than sear. Remove the browned beef to a plate.
  3. Add the onions and scrape the brown bits on the bottom of the pan with a wooden spoon. Cook the onions for 3-5 minutes or until the start to turn translucent. Add the garlic, and cook for another 30 seconds before adding in the seared beef, poblano peppers, cumin, oregano, broth, chipotle pepper, adobo sauce, and fire roasted tomatoes.
  4. Bring the stew to a boil before covering, lowering the heat, and allowing it to simmer for 1- 1 ½hours or until the beef is tender. Add the diced potatoes at this point and allow to cook for another 10-20 minutes or until the potatoes are cooked all the way through. Top with cilantro and serve with crusty bread.

Notes

  • You can use beef chuck roast//top round// bottom round for this recipe. Really, any kind of 'stewing meat' will be fine!

Have you made this recipe?

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Hearty Poblano Beef Stew Recipe | Little Spice Jar (9)

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Hearty Poblano Beef Stew Recipe | Little Spice Jar (2024)

FAQs

What is the secret to good stew? ›

For most types of stew, it takes time to develop great flavor. Stew uses collagen-rich, tough cuts of meat, which need at least two hours to break down. If you try to rush it and boil the stew, the muscle fibers will shrink and become tough. So give yourself a few hours to let it do its thing.

What is the one ingredient upgrade for better beef stew? ›

One-Pot Beef Stew

Many beef stew recipes already call for tomato paste, canned crushed tomatoes or tomato sauce. Ketchup works the same way: It makes the flavor of the stew richer and deeper.

What can I add to my beef stew to give it more flavor? ›

Add spices such as turmeric, coriander and cumin at the early stage of cooking, when you are frying onions and garlic, to enhance the taste of the beef stew. Fresh herbs like coriander and bay leaves also contribute a distinct flavour without making the dish too spicy for the younger members of the family.

How to make the perfect beef stew and the common mistakes to avoid? ›

The Five Most Common Beef Stew Mistakes
  1. Choosing a meat that's too lean. Stew is not meant for all cuts of meat. ...
  2. Putting too much flour on the stew meat before sautéeing them. ...
  3. Not using wine. ...
  4. Putting the meat and vegetables together in one pan. ...
  5. Not cooking it enough.
Jun 28, 2020

What gives beef stew depth of flavor? ›

Aromatics. Like rosemary, thyme, and bay leaves. The base of the stew also uses onion and garlic for the best depth of flavor. I prefer to use fresh herbs when I can (though I haven't been able to find a fresh bay leaf in years), but include notes in the recipe to substitute dried herbs.

What makes stew more flavorful? ›

If so here are some tips for making your stews tasty and have your family begging you for more!
  1. Choose your ingredients wisely. ...
  2. Start off with a good flavour base. ...
  3. Add vegetables. ...
  4. Add flavourings to taste. ...
  5. Add Herbs and/or Spices. ...
  6. Spices: (Optional) ...
  7. Add stock or wine/beer. ...
  8. Add thickeners.

What are the natural spices in stew? ›

The most common herbs and spices for a traditional beef stew would be thyme, parsley, bay leaves, and black pepper. In some cultures, there are also spices like sweet paprika, oregano, cilantro (coriander), or basil.

What are the best spices for beef? ›

Spices Inc., an organization devoted to promoting the use and sale of spices, has a broad list of its favorite flavorings for beef: basil, bay, black pepper, cayenne, cumin, curry powder, dry mustard powder, garlic, onion, oregano, rosemary, sage, and thyme.

What ingredient and taste that you would add to enhance the flavor of a bland stew without adding more salt? ›

5 Ways to Add Flavor Without Adding More Salt
  1. Stir in herbs and spices.
  2. Add a splash of vinegar.
  3. Squeeze or zest citrus.
  4. Sprinkle in some cheese.
  5. Add aromatics like garlic, onions, and shallots.
May 1, 2019

What not to put in beef stew? ›

But the liquid itself should not be thick in the same way that gravy is thick. So skip the roux, and don't bother dusting the meat with flour or cornstarch before browning, either, as some recipes will suggest. That will just interfere with getting a good sear on the meat, and gum up the stew with unneeded starch.

Why put tomato paste in beef stew? ›

A bit of tomato paste amps up the flavor of beef stew, giving it a richness and a punch of umami that makes the stew truly memorable.

When should celery be added to stew? ›

Once all the meat has been seared and transfered out of the pan, cook the vegetables. Reduce the heat to medium and warm another teaspoon of oil. Add the onions and celery, and cook until the onions are softened and translucent, 8-10 minutes.

What is the secret to tender beef stew? ›

The secret to tender beef stew lies in slow braising short ribs and marbled chuck roast in a red wine and beef broth. This gentle simmer transforms the meat into incredibly tender pieces that practically fall apart with a fork. Tender root vegetables, like carrots and potatoes, complete this hearty dish.

How to make stew nice and thick? ›

The flour helps to thicken a stew as it cooks. Whisk a teaspoon of flour in a little cold water to make a slurry, then stir into the stew as it's cooking. Don't add dry flour directly to the stew as it may clump. After adding the slurry, bring the stew to boil.

What makes the best stew beef? ›

Go for the chuck

The most common beef used for stew is chuck steak, also known as gravy beef or braising steak. Beef chuck comes from the forequarter of the animal consisting of parts of the neck, shoulder blade and upper arm.

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