Recipe: Hearty Beef Stew

Jan. 23, 2009— -- Do you have a great original, slow-cooker recipe? This is your chance to share your meal idea with the country.

"GMA" and Emeril Lagasse are looking for the best slow-cooker recipe in the nation.

Click here to enter the Slow Cooker Showdown and click here for a complete copy of the rules.

Emeril shares some of his slow-cooker recipes below.

Recipe courtesy Emeril Lagasse, courtesy Martha Stewart Living Omnimedia

Set a 12-inch saute pan over medium-high heat. Add 1 tablespoon of the olive oil to the pan and season the beef with 1 teaspoon of the salt, Essence and ½ teaspoon of the black pepper. Sear the beef (in batches, adding more olive oil if necessary), along with the pearl onions, until well-browned, 2 or 3 minutes per side.

Place the seared meat and onions in the crock pot.

After searing the last batch of meat, add the butter to the pan and, once melted, add the mushrooms and season with ½ teaspoon of the salt and the remaining ¼ teaspoon of black pepper.

Use a wooden spoon to scrape the bottom of the pan to scrape up any browned bits, continue to cook for 3 minutes.

Add the flour to the pan, stir to combine and cook for 1 to 2 minutes.

Add the stock, tomato paste, thyme, oregano, basil, ground Allspice and remaining ½ teaspoon of salt to the pan and bring to a boil. Once the stock boils, add it to the crock pot and set the temperature to high. Cover and cook for 1 hour.

Add the potatoes and carrots, and cook the stew until the meat is fork-tender, about 5 hours longer on high.

Skim any fat from the top of the stew and, if you prefer a thicker gravy, transfer 2 tablespoons of the skimmed fat to a small bowl.

Yield: 4 to 6 servings

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