Hearty Beef Stew vs Beef Stew with Barley on #RecipeRehab!

Our family definitely loves our meat and potatoes meals — especially in the cold of winter.  So when I was asked to try out two of the Certified Angus Beef® brand recipes that will be featured on the upcoming February 15th episode of Recipe Rehab, I was delighted!

For over 35 years, Certified Angus Beef®  brand has supported local farmers and ranchers, all across our country by offering premium quality Angus beef. We all want to enjoy our beef in the healthiest way possible, which is why they have teamed up with the popular CBS show, Recipe Rehab, to showcase a healthier spin on one family’s favorite beef stew recipe.

Beef Stew with Barley vs. Hearty Beef Stew Challenge

I was challenged to recreate each Recipe Rehab Beef Stew recipe, then ask my family which one they preferred. Each of the recipes uses delicious fresh ingredients such as thyme, carrots, spinach, meaty mushrooms and other fresh vegetables. The main difference is one was served over top cauliflower and one was served with cooked barley stirred into it. 

I was a bit skeptical about both because I don’t think I have ever made a beef stew that didn’t include a potato of some kind. Neither recipe included potatoes! I had no idea which recipe my family would choose!

When I opened up the packages of beef from Certified Angus Beef® brand and saw the perfect marbling, I just knew they were going to cook up so tender and juicy!

Beef Stew with Barley

The first beef stew recipe that we tried was the Beef Stew with Barley, created by chef Vikki Krinsky. This stew was so flavorful! I did change a few tiny details such as the recipe calls for pulsing the mushrooms, spinach, garlic and tomato paste in the food processor. Instead, I just chopped those ingredients up and stirred them together.

The first thing I noticed after I started cooking my cubes of beef was how amazing the meat smelled! Some beef has an off odor to me, but the Certified Angus Beef® brand just smelled delicious.

The stew was cooking up extremely thick and since I didn’t want to scorch my cast iron dutch oven, I did add an extra cup of beef broth. I think it was just the right amount of broth, once the stew finished cooking. Starting the stew on the stove-top, then finishing it in the oven made this an easy dish to make. It was such a hearty stew that we could each eat only one medium sized scoop! Of course, I did serve it with my homemade butter biscuits, to sop up the broth!

Get The Beef Stew with Barley Recipe Here >>>

Hearty Beef Stew

The second stew that we sampled was the Hearty Beef Stew, created by chef Keoni Chang. Instead of cooking potatoes in this rich stew, it is served over top of cooked cauliflower florets. I made this stew as directed, substituting portobello mushrooms for the shiitake ones that my store doesn’t carry. 

Quick Tip: In recipes that call for fresh thyme, I will often just tie a bundle together with string and toss it into the pot. This takes away the tedious task of trying to get those tiny leaves off of the stems. the bundle can easily be removed before serving, leaving all of the wonderful flavor behind.

I let the stew simmer for 3 hours on the stove, adding an extra cup of broth after the 2nd hour. The whole house smelled amazing! When my daughter got off the bus in the afternoon, she said she could smell it all the way out in the driveway, and it smelled so good! Now, that is a warm welcome! With a dollop of light sour cream and a sprinkle of pink sea salt, this rich stew made all of us go back for seconds, even though we were quite full. 

Get The Hearty Beef Stew Recipe Here >>>

Which recipe reigned supreme with our family?

It was almost a tie! My husband like the Beef Stew with Barley best while my daughter and I both like the Hearty Beef Stew a little bit more. Our son, couldn’t decide and said he liked them both.

So, I say Hearty beef Stew wins by default! I really really enjoyed serving and eating this beef stew over the cauliflower. It was different and while the stew was very filling, it wasn’t so heavy as it usually is when I add potatoes. 

Watch Recipe Rehab this Saturday, February 15th!

Make sure you check out the award-winning Recipe Rehab show, featuring Certified Angus Beef® brand, on Saturday, February 15th, to see both of these recipes and find out which one is the “official” winner! Check your local listings for showtimes!