Beef Curry Stew is full of warm, comforting flavors. This is the perfect recipe to make a big batch of on the weekend so you can enjoy it all week long. It only gets better with time. 
This curry beef stew is such a wonderful one pot comfort food meal.
Not only is stew comforting in and of itself, but the spices in the curry are incredibly warming, and work their way into all of the other ingredients.
What's in this recipe?
- stew meat (chuck/shoulder)
- peas
- baby Dutch potatoes
- onion
- salt, pepper, brown sugar
- Yellow Curry Paste
- tomato purée
- coconut water
- coconut milk
- red wine vinegar
What's interesting about this stew is that rather than using a stock or broth, the liquids used are coconut milk and coconut water. The subtle sweetness in these two ingredients is perfect to balance all of the spices and stronger flavors.
This is the Yellow Curry that's used in the stew.
Recipe Tips and Substitutions
- To save time, you can use your favorite curry paste (it does not have to be yellow). If you aren't using my recipe for the curry paste, be sure to taste whatever you use first. The measurements in the stew recipe might change with a different curry because the flavors and levels of heat will vary from recipe to recipe, or jar to jar. Use more or less depending on your taste.
- If you don't want to use coconut milk and coconut water, they can be replaced with beef stock.
- Feel free to add or change any of vegetables -- carrots, sweet potatoes, even a handful of spinach added towards the end of the cooking time would be great. (Carrots and sweet potatoes should be cut into bite-sized pieces and added when there's one hour of cooking time left in the oven.)
What to serve with Beef Curry Stew
This is the perfect one pot meal to serve with your favorite French bread and a salad.
It's lovely over rice or pasta, to ensure every last drop of sauce is soaked up. I love it with Roasted Garlic Basil Rice or Coconut Rice.
While I think this is the perfect cozy meal for a weeknight, it's impressive enough for guests over the weekend. Whenever you make it, you might want to double the recipe so you'll have leftovers. This is a recipe that only gets better and better.
Can you make it ahead?
As I mentioned above, beef curry only gets better with time, so yes, you can definitely make it ahead. It will keep for up to ten days or so in the refrigerator in a tightly sealed container.
Can you freeze it?
Yes, Curry Beef Stew can be frozen for up to two months or so in a tightly sealed container.
I hope you love it!
More stew recipes you'll love:
- Braised Brisket Stew
- Quick and Easy Mushroom Pork Stew
- Cabbage Stew with Turmeric
- Stove Top Turkey Meatball Stew
- Chicken Stew with Potatoes
What is exactly is a comfort food? Read this article to find out!
Beef Curry Stew
Ingredients
- 1½ pounds stew meat (shoulder/chuck), cut into bite-sized pieces
- olive oil for the pan
- 1 cup yellow onion, thinly sliced
- ¼ cup Thai Curry Paste (click here for the recipe)
- 1 (15-ounce) can tomato purée
- 2 tablespoons red wine vinegar
- ¾ cup coconut water
- ¾ cup lite coconut milk
- 1 pound baby Dutch potatoes, washed and dried, quartered
- 1½ cup frozen peas, thawed
- 1½ teaspoons brown sugar
- salt and pepper to taste
Instructions
- Preheat the oven and brown the meat. Preheat the oven to 250°F, and coat a large oven safe pot (a Dutch oven is perfect), with olive oil. Place the pot over high heat. Once it's hot, season the meat with salt and pepper, and add it to the pot. Sear it until it's browned on all sides, about 6 minutes. Use a slotted spoon to remove the meat from the pot and place it in a large bowl. Set aside.
- Brown the onions and add the curry. Add the onions to the pot and turn the heat to medium. Once they're nicely browned, after about 10 minutes, add the Yellow Curry Paste. Stir to blend and cook until it's very aromatic, about 3 minutes.
- Return the meat to the pot and deglaze. Return the meat to the pot and add the tomato purée, vinegar, coconut water and coconut milk, and use a flat-edged wooden spatula to scrape off any bits of caramelized meat or onion that are stuck to the bottom of the pan, working their wonderful flavor back into the stew.
- Place the pot in the oven for 1 hour. On the stove, bring the contents of the pot to a boil. Then remove it from the stove, cover and place it in the preheated 250°F oven. Cook for 1 hour.
- Add the potatoes and cook for another hour in the oven. Add the potatoes and cook for 1 more hour in the oven.
- Add the peas and finish cooking. Remove the lid, add the peas and turn the temperature up to 300°F. Continue to cook until the meat is very tender and the sauce becomes slightly thicker, about 30 more minutes.
- Season to taste. Season with the brown sugar and salt and pepper to taste. (Here's How to Season to Taste.)
Notes
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Kim
Hands down, your curry is the best Theme ingredient EVER!! I am officially a Kale-Grape Salad addict with the curry, cannot get enough. This Curried Tomato Beef Stew is now on my menu for Sunday. Bravo Valentina!! I have never thought highly enough of a blog enough to comment...you have rocked my menu's lately!
valentina
Hi Kim, Wow, what a wonderful comment! I really appreciate it, and I'm so thrilled you tried and loved the curry paste. The stew was a big hit over here, and I hope on Sunday you enjoy it, too! Your whole house will smell wonderful. 🙂 Valentina
Bruce
I made this curry today. It was a hit with my whole family, delicious. I made double the curry paste so I could give it to a friend if it was good. I already sent him the recipe & I'll be giving him the curry paste this week. Thanks.....
valentina
So happy it was a hit, Bruce! Thanks so much for sharing my recipes! 🙂
Dawn
What potato would be a good substitution for the Baby Dutch? I'll just cut them into small pieces, but would like a similar texture. Love your recipes!
valentina
Hi Dawn, Thanks for writing in. You can use Russets, Yukon Golds, Red and Fingerlings. All of these should work well. And yes, just cut them into bite-sized pieces. I hope you love the recipe. Happy New Year! 🙂 ~Valentina
Marissa
You can just tell this dish is bursting with flavor. I love how chunky it is and the beef is cooked to perfection! One thing, my husband is allergic to field peas - any thoughts on a substitute? Maybe snow peas or sugar snap peas?
valentina
Snow peas or sugar snap would be great -- or, I often throw in a huge handful of spinach close to when it's finished cooking. Enjoy and thanks, Marissa. 🙂 ~Valentina
Eha Carr
The world of 'curries' is one of the most fascinating in world cookery. Altho' none of the 23 countries preparing such-like food use the term . . . it does evoke incredible wealth and taste experiences. To think that India itself boasts over 20,000 different recipes is to me, after being a passionate student for over 50 years, still an experience par excellence every time I begin mixing the spices and herbs. Methinks the very mild 'stew' you present should very much please the large number of cooks who may not have had the opportunity to travel in the lands or taste what locals prepare . . . or indeed have such food as their 'diet' multiple times a week. Perchance after having enjoyed, as I am certain they will, they may want to investigate further . . . As far as timing is concerned - 'curries' should never be eaten before the second day and are considered at their best, of properly cooked, on their fourth . . .
valentina
Thank you for mentioned about waiting to have curry after it's made. I love that! And yes, it's so incredible how many variations of curry there are -- and in each country where they're made! Enjoy. 🙂 ~Valentina
angiesrecipes
I would lick the whole bowl clean! Looks so very delicious and comforting.
Angie
valentina
Thank you, Angie. 🙂 ~Valentina
John / Kitchen Riffs
It's been ages since I've made a beef curry! And I LOVE curry!!! Yours looks great -- deep flavor, balanced spicing. Thanks!
valentina
Thank you. Hope you give it a go and love it. 🙂 ~Valentina
2pots2cook
Never thought of balancing flavours with coconut milk and water ! Great idea !
valentina
Thanks, Davorka! Enjoy. 🙂 ~Valentina
David Scott Allen
The stew looks incredible, Valentina. I can’t imagine anything more comforting for these chilly evenings we are having. Thanks again for the curry paste recipe. Definitely a game changer!
valentina
Thank you, my friend. It is quite a comforting dish. I was just in the CA desert -- near Indio, and it reminded of the times I've been in AZ in the winter. The sky so clear and bright, and the weather crisp. Love it. 🙂 ~Valentina
mimi rippee
Oooooh you surprised me with this! A thai beef stew?!! Brilliant!
valentina
Thanks so much! I love food related surprises. 😉 ~Valentina
David @ Spiced
I love recipes like this where they taste even better the next day - cheers for yummy leftovers! This is a fun flavor combination, and I'm thinking it would make for a great comfort food dinner on one of these cold nights!
valentina
I know, right!? Me too. 🙂 And yes, perfect on a cool night. Thanks, David. 🙂 ~Valentina
Karen (Back Road Journal)
I like the idea of coconut milk and curry paste being incorporated into a stew, it sounds great.
valentina
Thanks, Karen. It's very warming. Enjoy! 🙂 ~Valentina