If you are feeling a little chilly on the outside or on the inside, this beef stew will melt even the coldest of hearts. Beef stew is a tried and true classic, yet this one has a few twists that add some unexpected tastes to a staple of seasonal dishes. Miami’s Chef Adrianne’s Maximum Flavor version throws in another dimension by roasting the vegetables before adding them to the stew for braising. This includes two different kinds of squash, ensuring that your taste buds will go for a warm and delicious flavor ride.

RECIPE: Roasted Vegetable Beef Stew

Serves: 6-8

Ingredients:

• 3 lbs boneless beef chuck cut into 1-1/2-inch pieces
• 2 teaspoons kosher salt
• 1 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
• 1 cup all purpose flour
• 3 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
• 2 yellow onions, cut into 1-inch chunks
• 10 cloves garlic, peeled and smashed
• 2 tablespoons balsamic vinegar
• 2 tablespoons tomato paste
• 2 cups dry red wine
• 2 cups low sodium beef broth
• 2 cups water
• 3 bay leaves
• 1/2 teaspoon dried thyme
• 1-1/2 teaspoons sugar
• 4 large carrots, peeled and cut into 1/2 inch slices
• 1 pound Yukon potatoes, cut into 1/2 inch cubes
• 1/2 cup celery, chopped
• 1 cup butternut squash, cubed
• 1 cup acorn squash, cubed
• 1/2 cup green peas

Directions:

Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F. In a large bowl, toss carrots, potatoes, celery, and squashes with a bit of olive oil. Sprinkle with salt and pepper to taste. Place in a roasting pan and bake for 15-18 minutes. Meanwhile, season beef with salt and pepper then toss in flour. Shake off excess. In a large Dutch oven or large pot, heat 1 tablespoon of the olive oil over medium-high heat, brown the meat in 3 batches being careful not to overcrowd.

Transfer the meat to a large plate and set aside. Add the onions, garlic and balsamic vinegar; cook, stirring with a wooden spoon and scraping the brown bits from bottom of the pan, for about 5 minutes. Add the tomato paste and cook for 2 minutes more. Add the beef with its juices back to the pan. Add the wine, beef broth, water, bay leaf, thyme, and sugar. Stir with a wooden spoon to loosen any brown bits from the bottom of the pan and bring to a boil. Cover the pot with a lid, transfer to the preheated oven, and braise for 2 hours.

Remove the pot from the oven and add the roasted vegetables and peas. Cover and place back in oven for about an hour more. Serve the stew hot, or let it come to room temperature and then store in the refrigerator overnight or until ready to serve. This stew improves in flavor if made at least one day ahead.

ABOUT CHEF ADRIANNE CALVO:

Adrianne Calvo is the Executive Chef and owner of Chef Adrianne’s Vineyard Restaurant and Wine Bar, Host of Maximum Flavor Live on NBC’s 6 in the Mix, author of four cookbooks: Maximum Flavor (2005); Chef Adrianne: Driven by Flavor Fueled by Fire (2008); #MaximumFlavorSocial (2014); and Play with Fire (2015), and founder of the Make it Count Foundation. Chef Adrianne’s Vineyard Restaurant and Wine Bar opened in 2007 and offers a varied and rotating menu with something for everyone. Monthly, the restaurant holds its signature event, Dark Dining, where guests are blindfolded for a sensual experience eliminating one sense to enhance another, providing maximum flavor.

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