BS: Things to put in a stew

Subject: BS: Things to put in a stew
From: Big Al Whittle
Date: 05 Sep 25 - 02:20 PM

If you were going to create a beef stew or a chicken stew, what would you put in it?

I did one yesterday and one of the eaters didn't like mushrooms. I didn't know he didn't like mushrooms. Has anyone got some brilliant ideas for ingedients.

All contributions gratefully received.

Subject: RE: BS: Things to put in a stew
From: Helen
Date: 05 Sep 25 - 03:04 PM

Hi Big Al,

I made this a couple of days ago. One of my faves:

Irish Beef and Guinness Stew

I use the leftovers to make pies using store-bought puff pastry, and we had that for dinner last night. I use a bit of ras el hanout spice mix in the stew too and I always add carrots and orange sweet potato (aka kumera) chunks, slow cook it for about three hours. Yum!

My other favourite stews are beef and prunes, or lamb and apricot which are also good in pies.

For chicken, one of my faves is paprika chicken although I don't add tomato paste to mine. I don't add other vegetables to the cooking. I serve them on the side because the taste of the dish is so good and simple and I don't want to muddle it up with other flavours.

Subject: RE: BS: Things to put in a stew
From: Big Al Whittle
Date: 05 Sep 25 - 05:07 PM

some great ideas there Helen - the bacon sounds good as does the garlic and thickenig flour. I was considering red wine. Im not too sure about the potatoes, which have foud disintegrate not altogether nicely.

Thanks very much. My wife doesn't like celery - so I'm not confident about that either. Idid put in carrots which were fine as were the mushrooms. I was watching the cook Jean Pierre on Youtube and I loved the way he cut up the mushrooms.

Anyway thanks very much.

Subject: RE: BS: Things to put in a stew
From: Joe Offer
Date: 05 Sep 25 - 05:17 PM

Turnips. Ya gotta have turnips.

Also celery, carrots, potatoes, onions....and meat.

Subject: RE: BS: Things to put in a stew
From: Helen
Date: 05 Sep 25 - 05:22 PM

Well I cheated and found an online recipe to paste the link here but I don't put potatoes or celery in my beef & Guinness stew. I also use a different Aussie brand of stout which is called "Cooper's extra stout" because Guinness is more expensive. For thickening, near the end of the cooking time I put about 3/4 cup of red lentils in and cook it for the last 20 minutes. It thickens the stew nicely, the flavour is not over-powering, it blends in well with the flavour of the stew, and it has the advantage of adding a bit of healthy fibre.

The beef in red wine is a great variation too and is a very similar recipe to the beef & Guinness.

Subject: RE: BS: Things to put in a stew
From: BobL
Date: 05 Sep 25 - 06:36 PM

Steak and Mock Oyster casserole - beef, onions, sliced mushrooms, stock/beer and a teaspoonful of anchovy essence.

Subject: RE: BS: Things to put in a stew
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 05 Sep 25 - 07:00 PM

We've gone too long without a food thread! Thanks, Al!

I like to brown the beef and braise it to make it tender and bring out the flavor, before adding onion, potatoes, and carrots. That is pretty much it for a pot roast; if I'm making stew then I like to also add parsnips (Turnips and Rutabagas or Swedes are too bitter for my appreciation). Season with some Worcestershire sauce, mustard, and red wine. I tend to put garlic in many dishes, but for some reason leave it out of beef stew. Season with a big grind of black pepper, salt (I use non-sodium salt these days), and sometimes some dried oregano or thyme. At the end I thicken the gravy with a little flour (I don't use wheat now, so a non-gluten product, or use cornstarch.)

Chicken stew is a totally different creature, one that doesn't braise, that I usually make with potatoes, carrots, onions, salt, pepper, oregano, and must have green peas added at the end. Make the broth into a gravy same as above.

I wouldn't mind mushrooms in either one, but it isn't a usual ingredient.

Subject: RE: BS: Things to put in a stew
From: Helen
Date: 05 Sep 25 - 07:50 PM

I'm not a fan of mushrooms or anchovies, so thanks but no thanks BobL, although my Hubby would eat it. He'd probably add real oysters too. He likes what I call "smelly things" food - oysters, prawns, the whole fishy lot.

Subject: RE: BS: Things to put in a stew
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 05 Sep 25 - 11:35 PM

The thing about anchovies is that they are an umami ingredient, so they won't necessarily give a fish flavor, they'll just boost everything else.

Subject: RE: BS: Things to put in a stew
From: Helen
Date: 05 Sep 25 - 11:50 PM

Yeah, nuh! Not for me. LOL

Subject: RE: BS: Things to put in a stew
From: The Sandman
Date: 06 Sep 25 - 02:05 AM

Beer, Herbs, pearl barley, potatoes . carrots

Subject: RE: BS: Things to put in a stew
From: Donuel
Date: 06 Sep 25 - 10:47 AM

Roasted nuts when stewed have a tender meaty texture and flavor.

Subject: RE: BS: Things to put in a stew
From: sciencegeek
Date: 06 Sep 25 - 11:26 AM

LOL   being a Heinz 57 American with two immigrant grandmothers, my ancestry's cuisines include the UK, central Europe and the Mediterranean... then I married into a Scots-Irish, Bohemian and Polish family.

Growing up the main difference between a stew and soup was based on what we had in the pantry and how many would be at the table, add a little more water and seasoning with plenty of bread to fill you up. :)

Stewed zucchini with chopped onion, celery, bell or cubanelle pepper, tomatoes and some left over Italian sausage would have garlic, basil, oregano and some left over spaghetti sauce would be ladled up and coated with grated cheese along with thick slices of Italian bread for dipping and cleaning the bowl.

Subject: RE: BS: Things to put in a stew
From: Big Al Whittle
Date: 06 Sep 25 - 01:00 PM

yes Sandman herbs, but which herbs?

Subject: RE: BS: Things to put in a stew
From: MudGuard
Date: 06 Sep 25 - 01:03 PM

it ain't a stew without onions. Meat to onion ratio between 1 and 2 ...

Subject: RE: BS: Things to put in a stew
From: Donuel
Date: 06 Sep 25 - 04:05 PM

By the third reheating, the egg noodles have dissolved and the meats are tender.

Subject: RE: BS: Things to put in a stew
From: Helen
Date: 06 Sep 25 - 04:06 PM

The usual herbs are good: oregano, thyme, parsley. I have a herb mix which I buy from the supermarket. It is called Italian Herb Mix and it includes Garlic, Tomato, Basil, Onion, Black Pepper, Oregano, Parsley, Marjoram, Bell Pepper Red. It's a quick fix for a few of my recipes and I just add a bit extra of whatever else suits the dish.

Subject: RE: BS: Things to put in a stew
From: The Sandman
Date: 06 Sep 25 - 05:25 PM

which herbs you use is a matter of taste,my recommendation is rosemary, thyme, sage, and parsley

Subject: RE: BS: Things to put in a stew
From: Raggytash
Date: 06 Sep 25 - 08:02 PM

There's a song in there somewhere

Subject: RE: BS: Things to put in a stew
From: Georgiansilver
Date: 07 Sep 25 - 01:28 PM

Lamb of course. Swede, carrot, parsnip, celery (yes celery) fresh beetroot. leeks, and Bisto onion gravy for sure.....plus whatever else you fancy adding.

Subject: RE: BS: Things to put in a stew
From: Helen
Date: 07 Sep 25 - 01:40 PM

Fresh beetroot! I've had borscht but I've never put fresh beetroot in a lamb stew.

I used to make succotash from a recipe in an old book I have with recipe sections on different vegetables. I know there are lots of variations of succotash but I think the key ingredient is corn kernels.

And sorry Raggytash, but your name reminded me of that recipe. :-)

Subject: RE: BS: Things to put in a stew
From: Mrrzy
Date: 08 Sep 25 - 07:54 PM

My local grocery has started carrying ground goat. Tonight's stew, keto …
Onion (out of celery) bell pepper zucchini, goat, a spice called Resist! which has many different peppers, oregano marjoram, out of garlic (poo!). Chicken broth, tomsto paste.

Yum.

Subject: RE: BS: Things to put in a stew
From: Donuel
Date: 08 Sep 25 - 08:35 PM

“Fillet of a fenny snake, In the cauldron boil and bake; Eye of newt and toe of frog, Wool of bat and tongue of dog, Adder's fork and blind-worm's sting, Lizard's leg and owlet's wing, For a charm of powerful trouble, Like a hell-broth boil and bubble.”

Bill Wigglespear recipe

Subject: RE: BS: Things to put in a stew
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 08 Sep 25 - 10:20 PM

Mrrzy, your recipes always sound marvelous. I shop at a Halal market that carries goat, lamb, chicken, turkey, and beef. As you understand, no pork.

On a recent trip to that store the young women in line behind me had some butcher department packages of lamb and goat in their groceries. I asked them what they were making, and while one of them realized they'd picked up the goat by mistake, they weren't concerned and didn't remove it from the cart. It would be just fine in the stew-type dish they had planned (they were Afghan immigrants, hopefully still safe in our Blue City in a Red State that ICE seems to have ignored).

Subject: RE: BS: Things to put in a stew
From: Helen
Date: 09 Sep 25 - 02:14 AM

If you want something big and spicy, try Beef Rendang

There are Malaysian and also Indonesian versions. It is a fairly dry dish because it is slow cooked to a fairly dry stage, and is usually served with rice, maybe coconut rice (yum!) and some other vegetables, maybe stir fried.

It's the kind of dish which is "once eaten, never forgotten". I first tried it a few decades ago at a local Malaysian restaurant and I make it now and then. The level of spiciness can be adjusted to your taste. We are lucky to have some lemongrass growing in a pot but it can be expensive to buy in the grocery shops. We also have a small kaffir lime tree. We don't get limes but we use a leaf or two in different dishes to up the subtle lime flavour.

Subject: RE: BS: Things to put in a stew
From: MaJoC the Filk
Date: 11 Sep 25 - 03:12 PM

> "once eaten, never forgotten"

You may wish to rephrase that, Helen. I'm a fan of peanut butter in sandwiches, to the distraction of the rest of the family. Herself once thought it wise to try making a ground-nut stew (from a Food Aid cookbook iirc: there was a picture of Terry Wogan on the front) .... Urghissimo; never, ever again. But that didn't put me off peanut butter.

Subject: RE: BS: Things to put in a stew
From: Helen
Date: 11 Sep 25 - 03:44 PM

Aah, peanut butter! Yum.

I might have tried that ground-nut stew - not impressed.

I listed some of my fave combinations of PB on sandwiches at the beginning of this thread:

BS: Peanut butter & ?? sandwiches

I tease my Hubby about putting banana on his PB on toast. He has never tried it, sadly for him. ;-)

Subject: RE: BS: Things to put in a stew
From: Big Al Whittle
Date: 12 Sep 25 - 11:13 AM

I recently got a thing for cutting up the onions. Its a bit like a food processer only you pull a string rather than turn on the electric. I think its very good.

Subject: RE: BS: Things to put in a stew
From: Helen
Date: 12 Sep 25 - 11:06 PM

MaJoC, the recipe book which has the peanut soup recipe is also a socially aware book:

People's Cook Book by Huguette Couffignal

That link might not remain forever because the book is for sale, but that is the same as the book I own. There are some good recipes in it but the peanut soup doesn't get my vote. I just found other recipes in the book for Chicken with Peanuts, and Meat Barbecued with Ground Peanuts.

Subject: RE: BS: Things to put in a stew
From: Mrrzy
Date: 19 Sep 25 - 07:23 PM

I am big into the groung goat. Nice lean meat.

Subject: RE: BS: Things to put in a stew
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 19 Sep 25 - 08:08 PM

I found some bison sirloin steaks in the freezer at my favorite discount grocery - meaning that they had them then and probably not likely to have them again. But it gave me a chance to try them and they're nice. Very lean, so don't overcook; it's best served medium or medium-rare.

Wine. I like a dollop of red wine in my beef stew.

Subject: RE: BS: Things to put in a stew
From: Joe Offer
Date: 19 Sep 25 - 10:11 PM

Attitude. It's very important to add a little attitude, when making stew. My attitude is snarky right now, so I'd better go to McDonald's and make my stew another day.

Subject: RE: BS: Things to put in a stew
From: Helen
Date: 19 Sep 25 - 11:51 PM

Does that snarkiness come from sweeping annoyingly prolific and persistent spammers out of Mudcat-land?

Setting up a slow-cooking stew is fairly quick and easy and then, the stew looks after itself for a couple of hours and afterwards you get the joy of sitting down to reap the benefits. For that slow-cooking joy I can highly recommend beef & Guinness (aka stout), or beef & prunes, or beef Bourguignon (i.e. with red wine), or lamb and apricot.

My other trick to make life easier is: when I fry onions, with garlic added right near the end, I always make at least double the amount, place the unused portion(s) in little plastic bags and freeze them. Then, next time I'm making something which requires fried onion and garlic I can cut the prep and pre-cooking time down a bit by just defrosting the amount I need. If I am making an Asian dish I make extra portions of rice too and freeze them in little bags.

If I have leftover stew I freeze that in portion sizes as well, for those days when I really don't have the motivation and/or energy to cook. Then, I just have to boil some pasta et voilà, meal ready in minutes. Quicker than going to Macca's and more tasty, satisfying and nutritious, especially if there are yummy vegetables slow-cooked in the stew as well.

[But - truth time - I have only been to Macca's five times in my whole life and I wasn't impressed. :-D ]

Subject: RE: BS: Things to put in a stew
From: The Sandman
Date: 20 Sep 25 - 04:45 AM

Joe, eats at McDonalds,

Subject: RE: BS: Things to put in a stew
From: The Sandman
Date: 20 Sep 25 - 08:10 AM

I have only been to a McDonalds once in my life, I was not impressed, Mind you the toilet was clean.

Subject: RE: BS: Things to put in a stew
From: MaJoC the Filk
Date: 22 Sep 25 - 11:50 AM

For completeness, Helen: I've found the book Herself got that recipe from. It's The Food Aid Cookery Book, edited by Delia Smith, foreword by Terry Wogan, proceeds to Band Aid, BBC Publications 1986.   Small photos of both persons on the cover.

.... We wouldn't save any time freezing premade ingredients* for cooking, either. We don't have a microwave, By Order.

* My mind keeps saying "components", even when I know a stew is not soldered together.

Subject: RE: BS: Things to put in a stew
From: The Sandman
Date: 22 Sep 25 - 12:02 PM

Haricot Beans

Subject: RE: BS: Things to put in a stew
From: Helen
Date: 22 Sep 25 - 12:45 PM

OMG! You're living in the dark ages MaJoC!

Microwaves are great for quick and easy defrosting, re-heating, delicately finishing off the last setting stage of quiches on medium low heat before browning the cheese topping under the grill, heating my pre-made percolated coffee. My trusty m/wave is nearly 45 years old. (Now that I have said that it will probably drop off the twig.)

I resisted buying one until my Mum and my sister both extolled the virtues and now it is a kitchen essential. Sine qua non.

Subject: RE: BS: Things to put in a stew
From: Helen
Date: 22 Sep 25 - 05:38 PM

And, regarding microwave ovens, it's one of the best ways to steam broccoli and green beans IMHO. Place about half a cup of water in the lower part of the microwave-safe steamer, place broccoli florets and/or green bean pieces in the steamer basket. Cook on high for *one minute*, check then cook again on high for *up to one minute more* until the veges are still bright green and just the right level of chewiness i.e. not too hard and not too soft.

Or my other two preferred methods are: fry on medium heat in olive oil for a couple of minutes - we use cast iron frypans because they work a treat for stir fries etc - then toss in about half a cup of boiling water and cover immediately with a lid. Done! Or if I am making pasta: when the pasta is almost cooked, throw the broccoli florets or bean pieces into the boiling water and cook for the last couple of minutes.

The Sandman, I haven't used haricot beans but I used to buy canned flageolet beans and they had a very nice flavour. I haven't seen the canned ones for a couple of decades or so.

Subject: RE: BS: Things to put in a stew
From: The Sandman
Date: 23 Sep 25 - 02:49 AM

Baked beans ,a cheap way of buying haricot beans, wash thetomatooff if necessary

Subject: RE: BS: Things to put in a stew
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 23 Sep 25 - 11:29 AM

Helen, I steam broccoli and cauliflower in the microwave when I'm in a hurry (the dogs get vegetables in with their dry food, and they love the cruciferous veggies). But for myself I prefer them in a basket steamer in a pot over water. There is a consistency difference (though either way will turn them to mush if you leave it cooking too long.)

I make a distinction between what I put in with a beef pot roast and what I put into beef stew, with the basics in both (beef, onions, carrots, potatoes). The stew can have other things like parsnip, and for a green accent, broccoli (added very near the end).

Subject: RE: BS: Things to put in a stew
From: Mrrzy
Date: 24 Sep 25 - 07:40 PM

Stilly, add no water to steam in microwave. The texture is perfect for me that way. The water in the veg are always enough, but do asparagus in a vertical container like a vase.

Subject: RE: BS: Things to put in a stew
From: Helen
Date: 24 Sep 25 - 07:44 PM

Mrrzy, I cook asparagus the same way I said for broccoli & green beans in the frypan: fry on medium heat in olive oil for a couple of minutes then toss in about half a cup of boiling water and cover immediately with a lid. I usually do the asparagus separately from other greens so that I can make sure it is just right.

Subject: RE: BS: Things to put in a stew
From: Mr Red
Date: 28 Sep 25 - 06:52 AM

Tomatoes:
Toss lightly:
over the shoulder.










of lamb

Subject: RE: BS: Things to put in a stew
From: Mrrzy
Date: 28 Sep 25 - 11:41 AM

Ooh good one!

I was talking how to nuke, which I do to avoid dishes sometimes...

Subject: RE: BS: Things to put in a stew
From: mayomick
Date: 03 Oct 25 - 08:33 AM

I agree with Sandman’s recommendation re rosemary, thyme, sage, and parsley - the order is unimportant . I do recommend adding a sprinkle of Martin Carthy to that one but be careful not to overdo it or you could end up with a complete and utter canticle

Subject: RE: BS: Things to put in a stew
From: The Sandman
Date: 03 Oct 25 - 04:31 PM

A cut that is very good for beef stew is spider, the inside of the hip bone.I went in to a butchers today and the young whipper snapper did not know what i was talkin about, still its not as much fun as going in and asking for a bit of skirt[ another cut],
my dad was a butcher

Subject: RE: BS: Things to put in a stew
From: Rapparee
Date: 04 Oct 25 - 01:11 PM

I've been in a stew about a bunch of things for some time now.

Subject: RE: BS: Things to put in a stew
From: Fred
Date: 06 Oct 25 - 04:59 AM

May I enter this here? It's the perfect boiled egg.

1. Bring a pan of water to the boil.

2. Take an egg FROM THE FRIDGE and carefully place in the water for 6 minutes.

3. Immediately remove and placed under a running cold tap to prevent further cooking.

Your egg is now ready. Enjoy! :)

-F

Subject: RE: BS: Things to put in a stew
From: mayomick
Date: 06 Oct 25 - 09:05 AM

chicken stew with boiled egg reciope https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uUc8HjGRbQk

Subject: RE: BS: Things to put in a stew
From: MaJoC the Filk
Date: 06 Oct 25 - 12:36 PM

> chicken stew with boiled egg

.... while singing "Mother and Child Reunion" ....

Subject: RE: BS: Things to put in a stew
From: Big Al Whittle
Date: 06 Oct 25 - 06:54 PM

I made a rubbish stew last week. I ended up throwing some it away. I used expensive ingredients - but it really tasted awful.

no guaranteesa are there?

Subject: RE: BS: Things to put in a stew
From: Helen
Date: 06 Oct 25 - 09:31 PM

So Big Al Whittle, I'm intrigued. What was in the stew?

Subject: RE: BS: Things to put in a stew
From: The Sandman
Date: 07 Oct 25 - 01:02 AM

try a bit of skirt

Subject: RE: BS: Things to put in a stew
From: Helen
Date: 09 Oct 25 - 03:52 PM

So, Big Al Whittle, I'm still wondering about the ingredients of your expensive "rubbish stew".

If I had made a rubbish stew it would include seafood - or what I call smelly things. ;-( Not my favourite food group. So, for example, even though I thankfully have never tried either eating or making bouillabaisse, I know that it is important to put the types of smelly ingredients in at the appropriate times so that each type cooks to the right consistency and flavour. So, in my rubbish stew detective evaluation of likely ingredients, this could be high on the list because smelly foods are expensive. (Apologies to lovers of those things. LOL)

Another possibility could be a spicy dish e.g. Indian, Thai, Chinese, Malaysian etc where the spice mix was not quite right. If there was too much chilli for example it could ruin the dish for some people. For me if there is too much star anise it ruins it for me. I actually hid the jar of star anise from my Hubby after he started putting too much in some of the dishes he made. He never knew that. :-D

To solve the problem of spice and flavour balance in Asian dishes I tend to use a jar of paste from a reliable brand as the base and then enhance some of the flavours. For example, I love Thai green curry so the paste I use after trying a few alternatives is Mae Ploy Thai green curry paste. We have lemongrass and a kaffir lime tree growing in our garden so I add some of those fresh ingredients as well.

So, what was actually in your rubbish stew, Big Al? This inquiring mind wants to know and was it the actual ingredients or the balance of flavours, or the cooking method, over-cooked, under-cooked, or something else e.g. it didn't suit your taste preferences?