Photo: Smoky Sirloin Stew with Watercress Dumplings Recipe
Ingredients
- 2 pounds beef sirloin, 1-inch thick, trimmed
- 2 tablespoons vegetable oil, 2 turns of the pan
- 4 slices hickory or applewood smoked bacon, chopped
- 2 medium onions, chopped
- 2 to 4 ribs celery, chopped
- 1 bay leaf, fresh or dried
- 4 sprigs fresh thyme or 1 teaspoon dried
- 2 tablespoons all-purpose flour
- 1 cup dry red wine, eyeball it
- 1 rounded tablespoon spicy brown mustard or grainy Dijon mustard
- 1 quart beef stock or broth, available on soup aisle in market
- 1/4 to 1/2 teaspoon liquid smoke flavoring, optional -- for extra smoky stew
- Salt and pepper
- 1 cup chopped watercress
- 1 box biscuit mix, 8 1/2 ounces (recommended: Jiffy Mix brand) prepared to package directions
Directions
Heat a heavy bottomed large, wide pot or pan over high heat. Cut the sirloin into large cubes. Add oil to the pan and heat. Add meat and caramelize for 2 minutes on each side; remove from pan to a shallow dish and cover loosely with foil. Reduce heat to medium high. Add bacon to the pan and brown bacon at edges, rendering fat. Add onions and celery to the pan, bay and thyme. Stir and cook vegetables 5 minutes. Add flour to the pan, stir and cook another minute. Whisk in wine and mustard and scrape up pan drippings. Add stock. Cover and bring liquid to a boil, 1 to 2 minutes.
Mix watercress with biscuit mix and add beef stock, (instead of water), according to directions on box. Add meat back to the pan and settle it in so that it is covered with sauce. Season with salt and pepper, to taste. Drop large spoonfuls of watercress biscuit mix into the pan onto the surface of the stew and cover the pan. Cook 8 minutes until dumplings plump. Serve stew with dumplings.
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By N2usodeep
on September 29, 2011
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This was YUMMY! My son and I really enjoyed it. It was so easy to make. Thanks Rachel!
By Raena46
Carmel, IN
on January 26, 2010
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YUM-O!! It was my first time trying a stew/soup, and it was a complete success!! I've tried different beef stews but they never came out quite right for me...but this one was a hit! Even my picky boyfriend loved it. I'm definitely going to make this all the time!
By Neekie82
Philadelphia, PA
on March 25, 2009
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I'm sorry, Rachael, but I am going to have to claim this one for my own when I cook it for my mother: The red wine addition makes this stew FAR superior to my mother's traditional stew. We are Jamaican, and usually make something called "stew pea soup"; but the sirloin stew I made last night????!!! MMM MMM MMMMMMM!
I couldn't find the right type of biscuit mix, so I didn't make it with the biscuits, but I KNOW that when I do? It's going to be a PROBLEM!!! (that's a good thing, lol.
I am a busy person and cooking is something I enjoy, but don't have enough time to do as a new nurse.
On my days of, I am DEFINITELY trying more of your recipes: THANKS SO MUCH!
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