Beef and Wild Mushroom Stew

Source / Author: Hearst Communications, Inc. (Website)

Ingredients:

• 2 tablespoons vegetable oil
• 1 pound medium white mushrooms, each cut in half
• 1 package dried mushrooms (1/2 ounce)
• 2 pounds beef for stew, cut into 1 1/2-inch chunks
• 3/4 teaspoon salt
• 1 large onion, diced
• 2 tablespoons water
• 2 garlic cloves, minced
• 2 tablespoons tomato paste
• 2 medium carrots, each cut lengthwise in half, then crosswise into thirds
• 1 cup chicken broth
• 3/4 cup dry red wine
• 1/4 teaspoon dried thyme leaves
• 1 bay leaf

Instructions:

1. In 5-quart Dutch oven, heat 1 tablespoon vegetable oil over medium-high heat. Add white mushrooms and cook until tender and lightly browned; transfer to small bowl.
2. In 2-cup glass measuring cup, add dried mushrooms to 1 cup boiling water. Set aside.
3. Toss beef with salt. In same Dutch oven, heat remaining 1 tablespoon vegetable oil. Add beef chunks in batches, cook until browned, 10 to 12 minutes per batch; transfer to bowl.
4. With slotted spoon, remove dried mushrooms from soaking liquid and coarsely chop; strain liquid and set aside.
5. Preheat oven to 350°F. In drippings in Dutch oven, cook onion with water until tender and lightly browned. Add garlic and cook 2 minutes longer. Stir in tomato paste; cook 1 minute.
6. Return beef to Dutch oven; add dried mushrooms with their strained liquid, carrots, chicken broth, red wine, thyme, and bay leaf. Heat to boiling. Cover and bake 1 1/4 hours.
7. Add sauteed white mushrooms; bake 15 minutes longer or until beef is tender. Discard bay leaf before serving.