What seasonings give flavor to a meat stew

Beef stew is one of those comforting dishes that's always a hit. It's prepared with a cut of meat that typically takes several hours to cook slowly, either in a slow cooker or a saucepan. To give it an extra touch of flavor, various herbs and spices are usually added, which infuse the meat during cooking.

The first step in flavoring a stew is salt. It can be kosher or sea salt, and it's best to season the meat generously before putting it in the pot or other cooking vessel. There are two ways to do this: prepare a mixture of dried herbs that includes salt and rub it all over the stew, or salt the meat and then cook it in a broth seasoned with fresh or dried herbs. In the second case, beef broth is the best option, and wine or beer also work.

This stew is usually made with chuck roast, a tough cut that requires several hours of cooking. This slow process is what makes it a tender and juicy dish. Aromatic herbs like thyme and rosemary are ideal because they infuse flavor over time, and bay leaves are also a good option. If using a spice blend, searing the meat before cooking helps lock in the flavor. Afterward, it's best to pour the broth around the meat rather than over it, so the spice blend doesn't run off.

The combination of seasonings depends on personal taste, and home cooks on Reddit use different blends. Some prefer just salt and pepper with aromatic vegetables, such as carrots and onions, instead of other herbs. "Aromatics like onion, carrot, garlic, bay leaf, etc., will give the meat so much flavor while it cooks," one user wrote. Another proposes a more original method: "a packet of Italian seasoning and giardiniera, including the vinegar."

If it's cooked slowly with herbs or vegetables and served with good side dishes, it's a dish that's hard to ruin.