Beef Stew

No good Spanish kitchen will be without a pressure cooker, so trying to fit in, I asked for a pressure cooker for Christmas.  Then after getting the pressure cooker and reading the manual in Spanish I set out to try to find some Spanish recipes that my family would eat.

This recipe was a hit!  And in Spanish style, you serve it with roasted potatoes (crispy) or french fries.  Put the stew on your plate and your fries beside it.  Yes, the fries will get a little soggy, but they are actually really good that way.

Madrid Style Beef Stew

Ingredients:

• 1 yellow or white onion
• 4 cloves garlic
• 2.2 lbs (1 kg) veal or beef (stew meat cut into chunks)
• 4-5 Tbsp (approximately) flour for coating meat
• 5-6 Tbsp Spanish virgin olive oil
• 2 bay leaves
• 20 whole black peppercorns
• 1/2 tsp thyme
• 1-2 parsley stems
• 2 cups (500 ml) white wine
• 1 Tbsp red wine vinegar
• 1 lb (500 gr) potatoes
• 1 sweet green pepper
• 2 cups (500 ml) Spanish virgin olive oil for frying

Preparation:

• Peel and slice onion and garlic into thin strips. 
• Chop parsley. Set aside.
• Pour flour and a tsp salt onto a large dinner plate and mix together. 
• Pour a few tablespoons of Spanish olive oil into a large pot or casserole dish and heat on medium. 
• Pat dry meat and dredge through flour.
• When oil is hot, brown meat on all sides. 
• Add onion and garlic. Sauté for 3-5 minutes. 
• Add the rest of the ingredients, except potatoes and green pepper. 
• Adjust salt to taste. 
• Stir well. 
• Cover and simmer for 60-90 minutes.

Pressure Cooker Note: If using a pressure cooker, once all ingredients have been added to the pot, close lid and bring to high pressure. Then lower heat and cook for 20-25 minutes.

• While the stew is cooking, peel potatoes and fry in a large frying pan. When potatoes are done, remove from pan and drain on a paper towel.

• (I did not do the peppers) Remove stem and seeds from pepper. 
• Cut into long strips. 
• Pour oil into small frying pan. (Oil should be about 1/4-inch deep in the pan.) 
• Heat the oil on medium heat and fry peppers until soft.

When meat is tender, place potatoes and peppers into wide, shallow bowls and ladle stew into bowls.