Simple Beef Stew

 

Ingredients

Beef Cubes (about 500g) - seasoned with Sesame oil, Salt & Pepper, and set aside while I prepare other ingredients.

1 carrot (Cubed)

1 yellow sweet onion (Sliced)

1 potato (Cubed)

1 Tablespoon Sugar

1 Table spoon butter

1 Table spoon cooking oil

Soup Stock or water (about 800ml)

1 table spoon dark soy sauce (just to make the color of stew darker. Can opt out as it does not really affect the taste)

Soy sauce / Salt + pepper to taste

Cornstarch/Corn flour + water (for thickening sauce if desired)

Method

1) In the pot, heat butter, sugar, cooking oil & stir fry onions until caramelized (about 10min ++) 
2) Add Beef and Stir fry till external of beef looks cooked and coated with caramelized onions/sauces.

3) Add carrots & potatoes

4) Add soup stock/water & dark soy sauce (adjust amount of water as needed. I filled to about half the pot, ensuring content is covered)

5) Bring to boil at high heat, then lower heat and simmer with cover closed at low heat until liquids reduce to about 50% (If using thermal pots, after high heat boil, transfer to outer pot and close lid for next 1-2hrs. Longer if desired more tender meat, flavorful gravy and softer veggies.)

6) Add soy sauce/salt/pepper to your desired taste. 

Optional: If prefer thicker stew, Mix 2 teaspoon of corn starch / corn flour + 3 table spoon of water in a small bowl until no lumps. Slowly add this mixture to boiling stew 1 table spoon each time. Let stew boil for about 5min between each table spoon to give them for the sauce to thicken until desired thickness. 

(I did not do this step as I prefer my stew to have soup-like gravy so that the kids can enjoy with the rice.)