Name: Cozy Dinner: Easy Beef Stew & Ube Bread Combo
Prep time: 30 min
Cook time: 2 h 30 min
Total time: 3 h
Cuisine: filipino-american
Ingredients: 2 pounds beef stew meat, cut into 1 ½-inch cubes; Salt and pepper to taste; 2 tablespoons olive oil; 1 large yellow onion, chopped; 3 garlic cloves, minced; 3 medium carrots, sliced; 2 large potatoes, diced; 2 tablespoons tomato paste; 4 cups beef broth; 1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce; 2 bay leaves; 1 teaspoon thyme; ½ cup frozen peas (optional); 1 tablespoon cornstarch mixed with 2 tablespoons water (optional); 3 cups all-purpose flour; ½ cup sugar; 2¼ teaspoons instant yeast; ½ teaspoon salt; 1 cup warm milk or coconut milk; ¼ cup softened butter or margarine; 1 cup ube halaya or ube paste; 1 egg; 1 teaspoon ube extract

Description

A comforting dinner pairing slow-simmered beef stew with slices of soft, sweet ube loaf bread. The savory richness of the best beef stew recipe meets the vibrant sweetness of ube loaf bread for a heartwarming Filipino-inspired meal perfect for family gatherings and cozy evenings.

Ingredients

Scale

2 pounds beef stew meat, cut into 1 ½-inch cubes

Salt and pepper to taste

2 tablespoons olive oil

1 large yellow onion, chopped

3 garlic cloves, minced

3 medium carrots, sliced

2 large potatoes, diced

2 tablespoons tomato paste

4 cups beef broth

1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce

2 bay leaves

1 teaspoon thyme

½ cup frozen peas (optional)

1 tablespoon cornstarch mixed with 2 tablespoons water (optional)

3 cups all-purpose flour

½ cup sugar

2¼ teaspoons instant yeast

½ teaspoon salt

1 cup warm milk or coconut milk

¼ cup softened butter or margarine

1 cup ube halaya or ube paste

1 egg

1 teaspoon ube extract

Instructions

1. Pat beef dry and season with salt and pepper

2. Heat oil in a heavy pot over medium-high heat and brown beef in batches

3. Remove beef and sauté onion until translucent

4. Add garlic and tomato paste, stir until paste darkens

5. Pour in a splash of broth and scrape up browned bits

6. Return beef to pot, add remaining broth, Worcestershire sauce, bay leaves, and thyme

7. Bring to a boil, reduce heat, cover and simmer for 1½ hours

8. Stir in carrots and potatoes, simmer another 45 minutes

9. If desired, add cornstarch slurry to thicken and cook 10 more minutes

10. Stir in peas, adjust seasoning and remove bay leaves

11. For the ube bread, activate yeast in warm milk and a tablespoon of sugar until frothy

12. Mix flour, sugar, and salt in a bowl

13. Add yeast mixture, butter, egg, and ube extract; knead until smooth

14. Knead in ube halaya until dough is lavender

15. Let dough rise in a greased bowl until doubled, about 1 hour

16. Punch down, shape into a log, place in loaf pan, and proof 30 minutes

17. Bake at 350°F (175°C) for 25–30 minutes until golden

18. Brush warm loaf with butter and cool on a rack

Prep Time: 30 minutes
Cook Time: 2 hours 30 minutes
Category: dinner
Method: stewing and baking
Cuisine: filipino-american

Nutrition

Serving Size: 1 bowl stew and 1 slice bread

Keywords: easy beef stew recipe, beef stew meat recipes, best beef stew recipe, ube loaf bread, filipino ube cake, cozy dinner, comfort food, ube bread