Dutch Oven Mediterranean Beef Stew

My Dutch Oven Mediterranean Beef Stew is the epitome of comfort food. With such delicious flavours, it is a one-pot meal, complete on its own, with cubes of beef, simmered until meltingly tender, in a rich tomato sauce with fresh vegetables and herbs. You will love this Gluten-Free Beef Stew.

Dutch oven beef stew, with a silver serving spoon scooping out stew.

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Why you'll love this recipe:
Ingredients in this recipe:
How to Make Dutch Oven Beef Stew:
Tips for success and FAQs:
Variations and substitutions:
Serving suggestions:
More delicious recipes for you to try:
Dutch Oven Mediterranean Beef Stew

Why you'll love this recipe:

My Dutch Oven Mediterranean Beef Stew is made using a less expensive cut of meat which requires long, slow cooking to tenderise the beef and extract the maximum flavour.

Not only are long-simmered stews satisfying to eat, but they also are easy to make.

This Gluten-Free Beef Stew is a family favourite.

You'll love this Mediterranean Beef Stew because:

Meat and vegetables are cooked together in the Dutch Oven, their flavours combining harmoniously.
When it comes to Beef Stew, you will get the best result by using inexpensive cuts of meat. The long, slow cooking will give you meat that is meltingly tender.
You can make this meal ahead of time. In fact, this is one meal that improves if made a day or two in advance. It gives the flavours time to fully harmonise and develop complexity.
This is a great dish for meal prep. Make a large batch and store containers in the freezer for days when you need an easy meal. It is pure comfort food that will warm and satisfy you.

Ingredients in this recipe:

Please see the recipe card further along in the post for exact quantities of ingredients and the full method.

Stewing/braising beef - use a cut of meat that is suited to long, slow cooking, such as chuck steak or boneless shin/shank/gravy beef.

Sea salt and freshly ground black pepper - for the best result, seasoning your food is vital.

Olive oil - my preference is olive oil as it is an integral ingredient in the much-acclaimed Mediterranean diet.

Brown/yellow onion and garlic - base flavour ingredients.

Crushed tinned tomatoes - use whole tinned tomatoes and crush them yourself if you prefer.

Beef stock - to reinforce the beef flavour. Use homemade or a good quality commercial beef broth.

Fresh rosemary - a fragrant, woody herb. It adds great flavour.

Chilli flakes - to add some spice - optional.

Zucchini/courgette - a member of the squash family.

Red capsicum/bell peppers - Red peppers are sweeter than green, and I like the colour they provide.

Kalamata olives - for easy eating, buy them pitted or pit them yourself.

Fresh parsley - my preference is the flat leaf Italian variety.

How to Make Dutch Oven Beef Stew:

Please see the recipe card further along in the post for exact quantities of ingredients and the full method.

Steps 1-2 of preparing this recipe - adding the meat to a dish and the browned meat.

1 - Prepare the meat:
Cut your meat into 3 ½ cm (1 ¼ " cubes) or buy pre-cut meat. Pat the cubed meat dry with paper towels. This will help the meat to form a nice brown crust when seared.

Sprinkle the beef with salt and pepper.

2 - Brown the meat:
Brown the seasoned, cubed meat in a Dutch Oven or heavy-based saucepan which has a lid. This is important as it caramelises the surface of the meat, giving it an appetising colour and a wonderful depth of flavour. After browning the meat, remove it to a bowl or plate and set it aside.

Steps 3-4 of preparing this recipe - cooking the onion and adding the beef, tomatoes and herbs to the dish.

3 - Cook the onion and garlic:
Add the onion to the same saucepan, cook for about 2 minutes, then add the garlic. Stir and cook for about 1 minute.

4 - Combine the meat, tomatoes, stock and aromatics:
Return the meat to the pan. Add the tinned tomatoes, beef stock and rosemary. Stir them together and cook slowly for about 90 minutes.

Steps 5-6 of preparing this recipe - adding the vegetables in and the finished dish ready to serve.

5 - Add in the vegetables:
When the meat is almost deliciously tender, add the zucchini and capsicum and cook an extra 30 minutes.

6 - Sprinkle with parsley and serve:
Add the olives and parsley, check that the seasoning is to your taste, and your delicious Dutch Oven Mediterranean Beef Stew is ready to enjoy.

Dutch oven beef stew, with a silver serving spoon in dish which is garnished with parsley.

Tips for success and FAQs:

This Mediterranean Beef Stew is a very simple dish to prepare, but we have some tips that will help you get the best result.

What cut of beef should I use?

Firstly, don't use expensive cuts of meat. Lean cuts of meat will become tough and dry. Choose a cut of meat suited to long, slow cookery, such as chuck/gravy beef or beef shin/shank.

Do I need to sear the meat first?

Yes! Browning your meat is the first step toward achieving a full, rich flavour. The caramelisation of the meat is the secret to a flavoursome stew. We do not use any flour in this recipe, making this a Gluten Free Beef Stew.

Can I add all the ingredients at the same time as the beef?

If you add the vegetables at the same time as the meat, they will be completely mushy by the time the meat becomes tender. So the vegetables retain their texture and colour, add them when the meat is almost perfectly tender.

Can I make the Dutch Oven Beef Stew in advance?

Yes, you can make this meal in advance. In fact, this is one meal that will improve if made a day or two ahead. It gives the flavours time to fully harmonise and develop complexity. Once cool, store it in the refrigerator in an airtight container for up to 4 days.

Can I freeze the Mediterranean Beef Stew?

Yes, store it in the freezer for up to three months in an airtight, freezer-safe container, clearly labelled with the name and date. It can be difficult to identify frozen items if they are not labelled.

Variations and substitutions:

Zucchini/courgette - you could use another variety of summer squash, such as patty pan squash.

Brown/yellow onion - a white onion can be substituted.

Flat leaf parsley - use some fresh basil if you prefer.

Round bowl of stew and mashed potato, with a person's hand resting on the bowl and other hand dipping in a spoon.

Serving suggestions:

There are so many ways to enjoy the Dutch Oven Mediterranean Beef Stew. It is a delicious meal on its own, but also works well with:

Some crusty bread or focaccia for mopping up the deeply flavoured juices.
Buttered noodles - boil the pasta of your choice until it is al dente, toss in a bowl with some butter, salt, pepper and chopped parsley.
Creamy polenta or mashed potato.
Ricotta or Semolina Gnocchi.

This Dutch Oven Mediterranean Beef Stew is a versatile dish, simple enough to be enjoyed by the family on a weeknight. Take to a potluck or serve when entertaining friends. It is a crowd pleaser.

From the inviting aroma to the robust flavour, this hearty Dutch Oven Beef Stew carries the promise of comfort and warmth. It is, simply, wonderful, old-style comfort food. If you like Mediterranean foods as much as I do, I am certain that you will love this easily prepared Beef Stew. This is food that will warm and satisfy you.

Alex xx

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This post was originally published in March 2019. It has been updated with new photos and more information. The recipe remains the same.

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