BEEF STEW

Ingredients

• 1 1/2 - 2 pounds beef chuck roast , trimmed and cut into 1 - 2 inch chunks OR beef stew meat 
• 1 -2 teaspoons sea salt
• 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
• 1/2 teaspoon onion powder
• 2 1/2 teaspoon Italian seasoning , divided
• 1/3 cup flour
• 1 medium onion , cut into large chunks
• 3-4 cloves garlic , minced
• 6 Tablespoons tomato paste
• 2 Tablespoons balsamic vinegar or red wine
• 4 medium Yukon potatoes , peeled and chopped into 1 inch chunks 
• 3 medium carrots , peeled and cut into thick slices (leave out for low carb / keto)
• 2 ribs celery chopped
• 1-2 teaspoons Worcestershire sauce
• 1 bay leaf
• 4-5 cups beef broth , homemade or low sodium
• Water as needed to cover the vegetables
• 1-2 Tablespoons fresh chopped parsley for garnish
• 1/2 star anise , optional but adds SO much depth and flavor
• salt and pepper to taste

Instructions

1.In a large zip-top bag, combine flour, salt, pepper, onion powder, and 1/2 teaspoon Italian seasoning. Add meat and shake until well coated.

2. Browning the meat: add cooking oil and brown the meat on all sides. Meat will not be cooked through. (Be sure not to crowd the pot - you may have to work in batches). Transfer browned meat onto a large plate.
Place the pot back in the pressure cooker and add onions and garlic and sauté for a minute or two then add the balsamic vinegar and tomato paste until just hot enough to deglaze the pot, about 1 minute.
Add the beef back into the pot along with potatoes, sweet potato, carrots, celery, Worcestershire sauce, the remaining 2 teaspoons Italian seasoning, bay leaf, beef broth and (star anise if using). Stir to combine. If there is not enough liquid to cover the vegetables, add water - only as much as needed. 

3.Cover and seal the lid and set to 20 minutes with High Pressure on Manual mode. Allow the pressure cooker to release naturally for at least 15 minutes. Adjust seasonings with salt and pepper if necessary (discard bay leaf and star anise if used). Serve hot with fresh parsley.

Note: I will use a slow cooker instead and once I brown the meat I will add into slow cooker and cook on low for 4-6 or on high for 2-4 hours