Rustic Slow Cooker Stew

I too found this to be a good basic recipe that improves with just a little doctoring. I took tips from other users and floured the meat before browning it, and also added extra corn starch. I don't think it has too much wine, but I do think it should cook longer than 4-6 hours for maximum flavor. Be sure to use a good meat, too! Also, I couldn't find consomme, so to get that intense flavor I added an extra can of beef stock (using a bit less water) and then threw in a boullion cube. Next time I will use more carrots and more potatoes, and add a little Worchesthire sauce, which I didn't have on hand, though I did use some balsamic vinegar. On the whole, though, this is a good, classic stew and very, very easy.

This stew is so very good and flavorful that it has quickly become my only stew recipe and a new winter staple in our home. I had to add about 5Tbl cornstarch to achieve the gravy like consistancy that we prefer, but other that that one small change I make this recipe exactly as called for. It is terrific!

Nope - what a waste of 3 lbs of beef. Tasted too much of the wine and I only put in 1 cup (all I had). There wasn't much taste - not sure what I did wrong but I'll stick to my own version of beef stew that uses already cooked and cubed roast beef. Sorry : (

This is basically a Beef Burgundy Recipe more than a basic stew recipe. I could tell just by looking at the recipe that it needed some help. As with other reviewers I have made some changes. I also floured my beef before I browned it. Then I also added some extra ingredients 4 cloves of minced garlic, 1 tsp of dried rosemary, 2 bouillon cubes, a bay leaf, and 1 can of tomato paste. I also cooked this on low for 8 hours as suggested by other reviewers and added more cornstarch for thickening.

I guess it was my error - should have read all the reviews first. I made this for my family and some friends who were visiting and we ended up ordering pizza - way too much wine, and aside from that, very little taste at all. My overall impression was that it was pretty bad and I won't be making it again.

Well this is a good base. I changed the herbs up a bit. I used 1/2 tsp thyme and 1/2 tsp rosemary. The rosemary went well with the wine. I added a more veggies(mushrooms and green beans). It tasted good day one but as with all stews and soups and such you need one good day for the flavors to meld together. I froze over half the recipe and gave some to my brother he loved it. Reheats nicely

All the Burgandy at my store was in big ol' jugs, so I substituted Cabernet Sauvignon. I cooked the stew in the slow cooker on high for 4 hours, but thought it could have stood another hour or two to further tenderize the meat. After it was done cooking last night, I didn't think that the flavors married that well and all I could taste was wine and thyme. But a night in the frig mingled the flavors and evened out the thyme and wine flavors. Heated the whole thing up on the stove when I got home and added in the corn starch...yep, it needed more than what the recipe calls for. Always nice to have dinner ready (or almost so) right after work! One last comment...We ate half of the stew (froze the rest), and it fed 3 of us, which included 2 adults and a 3 year old. So I think that the serving size is off, or at least for how much this family eats. Anyway, thanks for the nice recipe; it'll probably be a winter staple for us.

I made this exactly how it said to. There was WAY too much wine and it needed a lot of thickening for my taste.

My husband who does not like stew loves this.

I made this on a very busy day. It went together quickly and the results were far beyond what I expected. I did toss the beef in flour with the salt and pepper and then browned it before putting in the crock pot. The sauce/gravy was delicious but not very thick so I considered this more a soupy type stew. Served with hot bread it was just a terrific meal. I took some to friends and they have called asking for the recipe. That says a lot!

My husband isn't easy to please and he absolutely LOVED this... even wanted me to make it again the next night!

I read all of the reviews and made changes to the recipe. It turned out so good. I skipped the wine and mustard seed, but I didn't miss it. My family said it was delicious. Outside those changes, I follow the recipe. Yummy!

I let it cook longer by a couple of hours and didn't think the wine was too much at all. The thyme though was a bit strong tasting for me. I would cut it down to maybe a 1/2 teaspoon. Also those trying this will probably want to add more corn starch if you want it thicker because two just didn't cut it. I just added more and it turned out fine.

I've never rated a recipe before, but couldn't pass this one up. Thought the stew was fantastic and my mother, who eats like a bird had two huge bowls! I didn't have thyme on hand and used Mrs. Dash instead and like the other raters had to use more cornstarch than called for to thicken. But can't wait to make it again!

I added seasoned salt also & it was still rather bland. It was too soupy after cooking on low for 6 hrs, I added more cornstarch and cooked on hi for another 1/2 hr longer

Followed the reviewers tips, bay leaf, bullion cubes etc., really wonderful stew.