SLOW COOKER: AUTUMN BEEF AND VEGETABLE STEW (click here to print)

             AUTUMN BEEF AND VEGETABLE STEW

• 3.3 lbs. boneless braising steak (10 steaks)
• 1/4 cup clarified butter or lard
• 1 medium white onion (110 g/ 3.9 oz)
• 4 cloves garlic
• 1 large tin chopped tomatoes, unsweetened (400 g/ oz)
• 1 cup broth or vegetable stock or water (240 ml/ 8 fl oz) 
• 2 tbsp ground cumin
• 1 tbsp paprika
• 1 tsp ground ginger
• 1 tsp chili powder
• 1 tsp ground coriander seeds
• 1 tsp turmeric powder
• 2 bay leaves
• 2 cinnamon leaves
• 1 ½ tsp salt or to taste 
• freshly ground black pepper to taste
• 1 medium/ large rutabaga (600 g/ 1.3 lb)
• 4-5 medium zucchini or marrow squash (1 kg/ 2.2 lb)

Instructions:

1. Preheat the slow cooker (crockpot) to high. You will need to use a large 6 quart slow cooker or halve the recipe to fit the ingredients into a smaller slow cooker.. Using a paper towel, pat dry the braising steaks and season with salt and pepper from both sides. Place two to three steaks at a time in a hot pan greased with ¼ cup of ghee...
2. ... and seal until lightly browned all over. When done, transfer each batch into the preheated slow cooker.. 
3. Meanwhile, peel and dice the onion and garlic. Place in a pan greased with the remaining ghee and cook until fragrant and lightly browned.
4. Add the tinned tomatoes, broth, paprika, cumin, ginger, chili powder, ground coriander seeds and turmeric. Mix and cook briefly. Pour into the slow cooker over the meat.
5. Add the cinnamon sticks and bay leaves. Cover with a lid and cook for 3 hours before adding the rutabaga. 
6. Meanwhile, peel and dice the rutabaga. 
7. After the meat has been cooking for 3 hours, use a spatula to push the meat on one side of the slow cooker and add the diced rutabaga. Cook for another hour before adding the zucchini. Meanwhile, dice the zucchini 
8. After an hour, add the zucchini on the same side with the rutabaga and mix briefly to cover with the juices. Using tongs, remove the bay leaves and cinnamon sticks (or remove after the meal is done). Cook for another 2 hours. 
9. The stew is cooked when the rutabaga and zucchini are fork-tender. 
10. Place in serving plates and garnish with fresh herbs such as parsley or cilantro. Season with more salt and pepper if needed. Enjoy! 

9.1 net carbs; serves 8 to 10

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