Best Francescas Italian Stew Recipes

NORTHERN ITALIAN BEEF STEW

Northern Italian Beef Stew image

This hearty beef and vegetable stew that can be made in the slow-cooker is a family favorite. It is also the backbone for an excellent beef soup, if you actually find yourself with leftovers.

Provided by Karen Barris Calabro

Categories Soups, Stews and Chili Recipes Stews Beef

Time 4h50m

Yield 8

Number Of Ingredients 16

Ingredients

2 tablespoons olive oil
2 pounds lean top round, trimmed and cut into 1-inch cubes
2 large sweet onions, diced
2 cups large chunks of celery
4 large carrots, peeled and cut into large rounds
1 pound crimini mushrooms, sliced
2 tablespoons minced garlic
2 cups dry red wine
4 large tomatoes, chopped
1 ½ pounds red potatoes (such as Red Bliss), cut into 1-inch chunks
1 tablespoon dried basil
1 teaspoon dried thyme
1 teaspoon dried marjoram
½ teaspoon dried sage
1 quart beef stock
2 cups tomato sauce

Steps:

Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Cook beef in batches in hot oil until browned completely, about 5 minutes per batch. Remove browned beef cubes to a plate lined with paper towels, keeping skillet over heat and retaining the beef drippings.
Cook and stir onion, celery, and carrots in the retained beef drippings until just softened, 2 to 3 minutes. Stir mushrooms and garlic into the onion mixture.
Pour red wine into the pan; bring to a boil while scraping the browned bits of food off the bottom of the pan with a wooden spoon. Continue cooking the mixture until the wine evaporates, 7 to 10 minutes. Stir tomatoes into the mixture.
Return beef to skillet with potatoes, basil, thyme, marjoram, and sage. Pour beef stock and tomato sauce over the mixture. Bring the liquid to a simmer.
Reduce heat to low and simmer until the beef is very tender and the sauce is thick, 4 to 6 hours.

Nutrition Facts : Calories 475.7 calories, Carbohydrate 34.4 g, Cholesterol 102 mg, Fat 10.2 g, Fiber 7.2 g, Protein 49.9 g, SaturatedFat 2.7 g, Sodium 500.5 mg, Sugar 11.3 g

FRANCESCA'S ITALIAN STEW

Francesca's Italian Stew image

This recipe is amazing. Looking for something different to cook tonight, but really full of flavor this is so good. Even though the recipe does not call for it, sprinkle with some parmesan cheese.

Provided by Cecelia Anderson @ceander

Number Of Ingredients 11

Ingredients

1/4 pound(s) smoked sausage cut into1/2 inch slices
2 cup(s) ragu
2 cup(s) artichoke hearts, drained and cut in half
1 - large onion, diced
2 - cloves garlic, minced
3 - medium red potatoes, cut into 1 inch squares
1 - red pepper, seeded and cut into 1 inch squares
1 - bay leaf
1/4 teaspoon(s) oregano
- small amount of oil
- salt and pepper, to taste

Steps:

In a small amount of oil, saute' onion and garlic until aromatic.
Stir in sausage, potatoes, and pepper. Add tomato sauce, bay leaf, oregano, salt and pepper. Cover and simmer for 35 minutes.
Add artichoke hearts for the last 10 minutes of cooking. Once potatoes are fork tender, remove from heat.
Serve as is, with crusty bread or rice.
*Note: You can eliminate ingredients from this recipe and it still tastes amazing. The important ingredients are the potatoes, sausage, and artichoke hearts. To really enjoy this meal, make sure that the sausage and potatoes are tender. If you don't want to add the minced garlic, you can try using garlic powder(1/4 teaspoon), and if you don't like red pepper you can eliminate that as well. This is the kind of meal, you can make it your own.*