Ingredients:

  • 5 lbs Beef Chuck, trimmed and cut into 1.5-inch cubes
  • 1 tsp Kosher Salt, plus more for seasoning
  • ½ tsp Black Pepper, freshly ground, plus more for seasoning
  • 2 Tbsp Avocado Oil or Olive Oil
  • 1 Tbsp Xanthan Gum (or Guar Gum)
  • 1 large Yellow Onion, roughly chopped
  • 3 cloves Garlic, minced
  • 1 lb Cremini or Button Mushrooms, halved or quartered
  • 1 lb Celeriac (Celery Root), peeled and cut into 1-inch chunks
  • 1 cup Radishes, trimmed and halved
  • 2 medium Carrots, peeled and thickly sliced (optional)
  • 2 cups Beef Broth (high quality, low sodium)
  • 1 cup Dry Red Wine (e.g., Merlot or Cabernet Sauvignon) (Omit for strict Keto)
  • 2 Tbsp Tomato Paste
  • 1 Tbsp Worcestershire Sauce (low/no-sugar brand or Coconut Aminos)
  • 1 tsp Dried Thyme
  • 1 tsp Dried Rosemary
  • 2 Bay Leaves
  • 2 Tbsp Fresh Parsley, chopped (for garnish)

Instructions:

  1. Pat the beef cubes completely dry with paper towels. Season liberally with salt and pepper.
  2. Heat oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat until shimmering. Working in batches, sear the beef on all sides until deeply browned. Remove beef and set aside.
  3. If using wine, add the red wine to the hot skillet, scraping up any browned bits (the fond). Let it bubble and reduce by half (about 3 minutes).
  4. Place the seared beef into the crockpot insert. Add the chopped onion, garlic, mushrooms, celeriac, radishes, carrots (if using), tomato paste, Worcestershire sauce, thyme, rosemary, and bay leaves.
  5. Pour the beef broth over the ingredients. Stir gently to combine everything.
  6. Cover the slow cooker. Cook on Low for 6–8 hours or High for 3–4 hours, or until the beef is fork-tender.
  7. About 30 minutes before serving, mix the Xanthan Gum with 2 tablespoons of cold water in a small bowl until a smooth slurry forms.
  8. Stir this slurry slowly into the hot stew in the crockpot. Stir well and allow the stew to cook for the final 30 minutes on High (uncovered if possible, stirring occasionally) until the broth has thickened to a rich gravy consistency. Remove the bay leaves.
  9. Taste and adjust seasoning (salt/pepper). Garnish generously with fresh parsley and serve.