PALEO BEEF AND SWEET POTATO STEW

Paleo Beef and Sweet Potato Stew image

Classic beef stew is loaded with protein and vegetables, but it is also normally made with potatoes and flour. To make it paleo-friendly, thicken the stew with pureed sweet potatoes and cashew butter. This gluten- and dairy-free rendition of beef stew tastes just as good as the classic recipe and packs in even more nutrients.

Provided by Food Network

Time 2h25m

Yield 6 servings

Number Of Ingredients 15

Ingredients

12 ounces sweet potatoes, halved lengthwise
4 fresh sage leaves
2 sprigs thyme
1 sprig rosemary
4 pieces uncured, nitrate-free bacon, cut across in 1/4-inch strips
1 1/2 pounds stewing beef, cut into 2-inch chunks
Sea salt and freshly ground black pepper
4 cups unsalted chicken broth
2 cups 1-inch diced onions
1 cup 1-inch sliced carrots
1 cup 1-inch sliced celery
1 tablespoon tomato paste
5 cloves garlic
2 tablespoons cashew butter
Fresh flat-leaf parsley leaves, for garnish

Steps:

Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F.
Poke holes in the sweet potato halves with a fork. Place on a parchment- or foil-lined baking sheet and bake until fork tender, about 1 hour. Alternatively, microwave on high until the flesh is fork tender, 6 to 8 minutes. Set aside.
Tie the sage, thyme and rosemary sprigs together with kitchen twine or a clean rubber band and set aside.
Heat a Dutch oven over medium heat and cook the bacon, stirring often, until crisp, about 10 minutes. Use a slotted spoon to transfer the bacon to a paper-towel-lined plate and discard all but 1 tablespoon of the pan drippings.
Pat the beef dry and sprinkle with salt and pepper. Return the Dutch oven to the stovetop on medium-high heat. Working in batches, brown the meat on all sides, 5 to 7 minutes. Add the broth, onions, carrots, celery, tomato paste, garlic and herb bundle. Bring to a boil, then reduce to a simmer. Cover and cook for 1 hour on low heat.
Uncover and cook at a low simmer until the meat is tender and the vegetables are cooked through, 45 minutes.
Scoop out the flesh from the cooked sweet potatoes and place in a blender. Carefully add 1 cup of the stewing liquid and the cashew butter to the blender, then puree until smooth. Add the puree to the stew and stir well. Simmer to thicken, 5 minutes, then season with salt and pepper. Remove the herb bundle and serve the stew garnished with the bacon bits and parsley leaves.

Nutrition Facts : Calories 361 calorie, Fat 11.5 grams, SaturatedFat 3.7 grams, Cholesterol 106 milligrams, Sodium 319 milligrams, Carbohydrate 21.7 grams, Fiber 4.1 grams, Protein 42.1 grams, Sugar 7.2 grams