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Recipes

Winter Beef and Beer Stew with Cheese Crust

  • Writer: Anthology of Crumbs
    Anthology of Crumbs
  • Sep 28
  • 1 min read

Updated: Oct 16

Rich beef and stout simmer low and slow with onions and herbs, finished with sourdough topped in Swiss cheese, a stew that feels like the heart of winter.
Rich beef and stout simmer low and slow with onions and herbs, finished with sourdough topped in Swiss cheese, a stew that feels like the heart of winter.

1

Searing the Beef

Using carrots and celery instead of mushrooms gives a lighter, less earthy flavor but works beautifully.
For extra depth, try a smoked porter or chocolate stout.
Serve with a green salad to balance the richness.
Leftovers reheat well in the oven, covered, at a low temperature.

Notes
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1

Preheat oven to 400°F, dust beef in flour, and shake off excess.

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2

Dust beef in flour and shake to remove excess. Heat heavy based 8 cup (2L) saucepan over high heat. Add the oil and the beef and cook for 3-4 minutes or until browned. Remove and set aside.

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3

Reduce the heat to low, add the onion and cook for 5-6 minutes or until soft.

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4

Return heat to high, gradually add the beer and cook for 3-4 minutes or until reduced by half.

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5

Return the beef to the pan with the stock, mushrooms (or carrots & celery), bay leaves, thyme, tomato paste, and sugar and stir to combine.

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6

Cover with a tight fitting lid and bake for 1.5 hours or until the beef is tender and sauce has thickened.

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7

Top beef with the bread and cheese and bake for a further 10-15 minutes or until bread is golden and cheese is melted.

Instructions

1 kg beef (chopped about 2 lbs)

plain flour (for dusting)

2 Tbsp olive oil

2 brown onions (chopped)

2 cups dark beer 500 ml (stout or porter)

2 cups beef stock 500 ml

250 g button mushrooms (halved) or 2 carrots (diced) and 2 celery ribs (diced)

3 bay leaves

3 sprigs thyme

2 Tbsp tomato paste

1 Tbsp sugar

4 slices sourdough bread

¼ cup Swiss cheese 30 g (grated)

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Winter Beef and Beer Stew with Cheese Crust
Anthology of Crumbs
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average rating is 5 out of 5

Who can resist melt-in-your-mouth beef stew on a cold winter evening? This version leans on the richness of stout or porter, the sweetness of onions, and a slow oven braise that deepens flavor with every passing minute. Finished with sourdough and Swiss cheese, it becomes part stew, part gratin, and wholly comforting.

Servings :

6

Calories:

Prep Time

20 min

Cooking Time

1 hr 45 min

Rest Time

0

Total Time

2 hr 5 min

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about me

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I’ll preface this by saying I’m not a chef — just someone who loves to cook and needed a place to gather and share the recipes that have shaped my kitchen.

 

From the classics that are always on rotation to the discoveries I’ve stumbled upon along the way, you’ll find them here. Each recipe is shared in its original form, with Anthology’s Notes added at the end to reflect the tweaks and touches that suit our table.

 

Over the years I’ve tried to make many recipes my own, so you’ll also see those variations woven in.

 

Basically: cook, taste, adjust, and repeat.

— A

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