Barley Free Beef and Sweet Potato Stew

Total time2 hr 30 min

Prep time20 min

Cook time2 hr 10 min

4.7

(17)

This hearty, soul-warming stew is exactly the kind of one-pot meal that makes a cold evening feel manageable. Chunks of beef chuck are seared until deeply browned, then slow-simmered in bone broth with sweet potatoes, carrots, and parsnips until everything is fall-apart tender and rich with flavor. The spice blend of turmeric, Ceylon cinnamon, and fresh ginger gives the broth a warmth that feels almost exotic without veering into unfamiliar territory — it's comforting in the best possible way. A splash of apple cider vinegar brightens the whole pot and keeps the richness from feeling heavy. For anyone navigating grain sensitivities, this recipe is naturally built around whole, unprocessed ingredients — no fillers, no thickeners, nothing that sneaks in where it shouldn't. The technique is straightforward: patient searing, a long gentle simmer, and fresh herbs doing the heavy lifting. Finish with a scatter of flat-leaf parsley and you've got a bowl that looks and tastes like it took far more effort than it actually did.

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Ingredients

4 servings

2 lb beef chuck, cut into 1 ½-inch cubes
1 ½ tsp fine sea salt, divided
2 tbsp coconut oil
1 medium yellow onion, diced
4 cloves garlic, minced
1 tbsp fresh ginger, grated
1 tsp ground turmeric
½ tsp ceylon cinnamon
4 cups bone broth
1 tbsp apple cider vinegar
1 lb sweet potatoes, peeled and cut into 1-inch chunks
2 medium carrots, peeled and cut into 1-inch pieces
2 medium parsnips, peeled and cut into 1-inch pieces
2 sprigs fresh thyme
1 sprig fresh rosemary

For serving

2 tbsp fresh flat-leaf parsley, roughly chopped (optional)

Instructions

1
Pat the beef cubes thoroughly dry with paper towels and season with 1 tsp of the salt.
2
Heat the coconut oil in a large Dutch oven over medium-high heat until shimmering. Working in two batches to avoid crowding, add the beef in a single layer and sear undisturbed for 3–4 minutes per side, until a deep brown crust forms and the pieces release easily from the pot. Transfer the seared beef to a plate and repeat with the remaining batch.

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