1-Getting started with beef stew begins with pulling together all your ingredients, like cubing the beef and chopping the veggies, to keep things smooth. Once everything is ready, heat the olive oil in a large pot and brown the beef in batches for that deep, tasty flavor. This step really brings out the richness you’re aiming for.

2-Next, add in the onions and cook them until soft, which takes about three minutes, then pour in the beef broth and wine if you’re using it. Stir in the beef, potatoes, carrots, celery, tomato paste, and rosemary, then let it simmer covered on low heat for about an hour until the beef turns tender. For a thicker stew, mix cornstarch with water and add it in to get the right consistency, boiling briefly to blend everything well.

3-Finally, toss in the peas for the last few minutes so they stay bright and firm. Remember, searing the beef first enhances the slow cooker magic, much like in other hearty recipes on this site. This whole process, from prep to plate, takes around 1 hour and 30 minutes, with 20 minutes for prep and 1 hour and 10 minutes for cooking, making it a practical choice for weeknights.