Hearty Crock Pot Beef and Lentil Stew
This nourishing beef and lentil stew is a comforting dish that brings warmth and richness to your dinner table. Perfect for chilly evenings, this recipe leverages flavorful soup bones sourced from local farmers, combining them with wholesome vegetables and protein-packed lentils. As the ingredients slowly simmer together in the crock pot, they meld into a robust broth that's thick and satisfying. The addition of fresh cabbage at the end adds a delightful crunch and nutritional boost. Prepare in the morning and let it cook all day; by dinner time, you’ll have a delicious, hearty meal ready to serve. Don't forget to set your bread-maker to bake alongside, so you can enjoy this dish with freshly baked bread.
N/A
Servings
N/A
Calories
13
Ingredients
Ingredients
soup bones with meat
2 lbs (Use bones with some meat attached.)
carrots
3 (Peeled and chopped.)
medium potatoes
3 (Peeled and chopped.)
large onion
1 (Peeled and chopped.)
celery stalks
3 (Chopped.)
chopped tomatoes
1 (28 ounce can) (Undrained.)
water
6 cups (N/A)
beef bouillon cubes
6 (Crushed.)
lentils
1/2 lb (Rinsed.)
salt
1 teaspoon (N/A)
pepper
1/4 teaspoon (N/A)
marjoram
1/8 teaspoon (N/A)
shredded cabbage
3 cups (N/A)
Instructions
1
In your slow cooker (4.5 quarts or larger), combine the soup bones, carrots, potatoes, onion, celery, canned tomatoes with their juice, water, crushed beef bouillon cubes, lentils, salt, pepper, and marjoram. Stir well to combine all the ingredients.
2
Cover the crock pot with the lid, and set the heat to low. Allow the soup to cook for about 8 hours, or until the lentils are tender and the flavors have fully developed.
3
Once cooked, carefully remove the soup bones from the pot. Use two forks to shred the beef from the bones, discarding any excess fat and gristle. Return the shredded beef to the soup.
4
Add the shredded cabbage to the pot, then increase the heat setting to high. Cover and cook for an additional 30 to 45 minutes, or until the cabbage and other vegetables are tender.
5
Serve hot, ideally with fresh bread.
Nutrition Information
Frequently Asked Questions
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Hearty Crock Pot Beef and Lentil Stew?
It is a nourishing and comforting slow-cooked dish made with beef soup bones, lentils, wholesome vegetables, and a robust broth, perfect for chilly evenings.
What size slow cooker is needed for this recipe?
You should use a slow cooker that is 4.5 quarts or larger.
What kind of meat is recommended for the stew?
The recipe calls for 2 lbs of soup bones with some meat attached, ideally sourced from local farmers.
How many carrots are used in this recipe?
The recipe requires 3 carrots, which should be peeled and chopped.
How many potatoes do I need?
You will need 3 medium potatoes, peeled and chopped.
What type of onion is best for this stew?
The recipe specifies 1 large onion, which should be peeled and chopped.
How much celery is added to the pot?
The recipe calls for 3 chopped celery stalks.
Should I drain the canned tomatoes?
No, you should use one 28-ounce can of chopped tomatoes and leave them undrained.
How much water is added to the slow cooker?
You need to add 6 cups of water.
How many beef bouillon cubes are required?
The recipe uses 6 beef bouillon cubes.
How should the bouillon cubes be prepared?
The beef bouillon cubes should be crushed before being added to the slow cooker.
What amount of lentils is used?
You will need 1/2 lb of lentils.
Do I need to wash the lentils before cooking?
Yes, the lentils should be rinsed before adding them to the stew.
How much salt is included in the seasoning?
The recipe calls for 1 teaspoon of salt.
How much pepper is added?
The recipe includes 1/4 teaspoon of pepper.
What specific herb is used for flavoring?
The recipe uses 1/8 teaspoon of marjoram.
How much cabbage is needed?
The recipe requires 3 cups of shredded cabbage.
When is the cabbage added to the stew?
The cabbage is added at the end of the cooking process, after the soup bones have been removed and the beef shredded.
How long should the stew cook on the low setting?
It should cook on low for approximately 8 hours, or until the lentils are tender.
How do I process the beef after the initial cook time?
Remove the bones from the pot and use two forks to shred the beef, then return the shredded meat to the soup.
What should I do with the fat and gristle from the bones?
Any excess fat and gristle should be discarded after shredding the meat.
How long does the stew cook after adding the cabbage?
Cook for an additional 30 to 45 minutes once the cabbage has been added.
Does the heat setting change at the end of the recipe?
Yes, once the cabbage is added, you should increase the heat setting from low to high.
What is the recommended side dish for this stew?
It is best served hot with freshly baked bread, potentially made in a bread-maker.
What is the texture of the finished stew?
The stew has a robust broth that is thick and satisfying, with a delightful crunch from the fresh cabbage.
Is this a good recipe for morning preparation?
Yes, you can prepare it in the morning and let it cook all day to have a hearty meal ready by dinner time.
Can I use frozen vegetables?
The recipe suggests fresh vegetables like chopped carrots, potatoes, and celery for the best results.
What is the total estimated cooking time?
The total cooking time is approximately 8 hours and 45 minutes.
Are the potatoes and carrots peeled in this recipe?
Yes, the recipe specifies that both the carrots and the medium potatoes should be peeled.
Is the shredded beef returned to the pot immediately?
Yes, once shredded from the bones, the meat is returned to the soup before adding the cabbage.