Beef Stew: Warm and delicious recipes for you and your dog

With the weather getting chilly, who doesn't love a delicious and comforting recipe to warm your soul and fill your belly. Beef stew is a classic recipe for many reasons: it's full of hearty protein, yummy taste, and is super simple to make. There's nothing like a piping hot stew to keep you going, and we know your waggy pal feels the same! We'll break down this recipe into easy steps and tell you all about its rich history, so you can feel top dog of your kitchen.

At Tilly & Ted, we think your best friend deserves a seat at the table, and as such, all our pet foods are designed after dishes you could enjoy alongside your furry friend. They're so tantalisingly tasty that you could (almost) eat them too. Although we wouldn't recommend eating your dog's food at the best of times, there's nothing to make your pet feel part of the family than sharing a meal all together. Take a look at the mouth- watering recipe below for a classic and delicious beef stew: best enjoyed alongside your waggy bestie whilst they tuck into our new Beef Stew with Vegetables pup recipe, designed with their enjoyment and health at its core. 

Feeling peckish? Let's go!

The beefy history of the stew

Meat and vegetable stew is one of the oldest recipes that we

know, as it can be traced all the way back to ancient civilisations and the first methods

of cooking. Since it involves simply cooking meat and veg in liquid for long periods of

time, it's no wonder this delicious meal was invented as soon as we could cook, and

has been a staple of recipe books ever since. The first recorded instance of beef stew

was in a Roman cookbook called the Apicius, and consisted of stewing beef,

vegetables, and wine all together in a pot. Since then, variations on the humble beef

stew have only grown, and it serves as a fantastically simple and yummy base to enjoy

as is, or to spice up into a gourmet delicacy.

For our beef stew recipe, we wanted your special canine to enjoy the best of the best,

so decided to go with three hearty protein sources. With beef, poultry, and pork, our

meal is bursting with easy digestion and energising flavour (psst...check out our recent post on our top 10 doggy superfoods for more information on the health benefits of our meals).

This (human) recipe below uses braised steak, red wine, and classic country

vegetables, packing it with with essential vitamins and a tasty kick - hopefully leaving

you with a shiny coat and happy tummy just like your pup.

Ingredients 

1.2 kg braised steak

3 tbsp olive oil

4 cloves of minced garlic

2 bay leaves

4 sprigs of thyme

Salt and pepper, to taste

2 tsp Worcestershire sauce

2 tbsp tomato puree

50g flour

2 stalks of celery

3 medium carrots

400g baby potatoes

1 large onion

500ml red wine

750ml beef stock

Instructions

1) Prepare your vegetables by chopping your carrots and celery into chunks, halving each baby potato, and peeling and slicing your onion.

2)  Sprinkle your beef with salt and pepper, before heating half the olive oil over a high heat in a large casserole pot or dutch oven that has a lid.

3) We'll be cooking the beef in portions so as not to overcrowd the pot. Add in just enough of your beef so that it evenly fits into your pot, and cook until it is browned all over. Set this cooked beef aside, and continue to add and brown portions of your beef until it is all cooked.

4) Turn the heat down to medium, and add in the rest of the oil. Pop in the onion and garlic, and cook just until softened and fragrant.

5) Add in the carrots and celery and stir well, before sprinkling everything with your flour.

6) Add your beef broth, red wine, Worcestershire sauce, and tomato puree, and stir well. If this liquid does not not cover all of your ingredients, pour in water until everything is covered.

7) Turn down your heat to a gentle simmer, pop on the lid, and cook for around 1 hour and 45 minutes, or until the beef is tender.

8) Remove the lid, and simmer for another 30 minutes until the liquid has reduced slightly into a thin gravy.

9) Season to taste, and enjoy!

Now your treat is ready to eat! If you've enjoyed this deliciously hearty meal, try one of our other recipes matched to our paw-some pet meals, such as our lovely Lamb Kebab or fantastic Chicken Dinner.

And something for your pet… 

Why not give your pet a seat at the table, and let your paw-fect pal enjoy a delicious Beef Stew with Vegetables alongside you? Our yummy pet recipe is curated to satisfy your dog's cravings for hearty flavours and nutritious ingredients. Made with succulent beef, pork, poultry, and a medley of vegetables, this classic collection of ingredients makes for a comforting meal for your pooch. If your pup prefers fishier dishes however, we highly recommend our Fisherman's Pie or Salmon Traybake for fish based meals that are just as protein-packed and scrummy.

Everything we include in our Tilly & Ted recipes has an important role to play. Our recipes are bursting with goodness and developed with purposeful nutrition, where every ingredient matters to make delicious and nutritious dishes for your furry friend. All our meals are 100% complete and balanced to ensure your pet gets everything it needs. Grubs up!