ADVERTISEMENT
### **Instructions:**
#### **Step 1: Prepare the Ingredients**
Before you begin cooking, gather all of your ingredients. Peel and dice the potatoes, slice the carrots, chop the onion, and mince the garlic. The prep work doesn’t take long, and it makes the cooking process much smoother.
If you’re using ground beef or sausage, ensure that it’s thawed and ready to be browned. You can use any type of sausage, but a mild Italian sausage tends to work well in this recipe because of its balanced seasoning. Alternatively, you can opt for lean ground beef for a simpler version.
#### **Step 2: Brown the Meat**
In a large pot or Dutch oven, heat the olive oil over medium heat. Add the ground meat (beef or sausage), and cook until browned. Use a wooden spoon to break up the meat as it cooks. Once it’s fully browned and no longer pink, drain any excess fat if needed.
If you’re using sausage with casings, you can remove the casings and crumble the sausage into the pan. If desired, add a tablespoon of tomato paste at this point to give the dish a richer flavor and deeper color.
#### **Step 3: Add the Vegetables**
Once the meat is cooked, add the chopped onions and minced garlic to the pot. Sauté for about 3-4 minutes, or until the onions become translucent and aromatic. Add the diced potatoes and carrots, stirring to combine everything. At this stage, you can season with dried thyme, rosemary, bay leaf, salt, and pepper.
#### **Step 4: Add the Broth**
Pour in the beef broth (or vegetable broth if you prefer), ensuring that the vegetables and meat are fully covered with liquid. Bring the mixture to a boil, then reduce the heat to low, allowing the stew to simmer. Cover the pot and cook for about 20-25 minutes, or until the potatoes and carrots are tender.
#### **Step 5: Add the Peas**
Once the vegetables are cooked through, add the frozen peas (or green beans) and cook for an additional 5-7 minutes. This will allow the peas to heat through and absorb some of the stew’s flavor. Taste the stew at this point, and adjust the seasoning if necessary with additional salt, pepper, or herbs.
#### **Step 6: Serve**
Once everything is cooked and the flavors have melded together, remove the bay leaf. Ladle the stew into bowls, garnish with freshly chopped parsley if desired, and serve immediately. This dish pairs beautifully with crusty bread or a simple salad on the side.
—
## **The Importance of Simple, Hearty Meals**
One of the things that makes this recipe so special is its simplicity. It’s a reminder of how the most basic ingredients can come together to create a meal that’s greater than the sum of its parts. For Nana, this dish represented the heart of her family’s cooking—meals that were easy to prepare, affordable, and most importantly, comforting.
In today’s fast-paced world, it’s easy to forget the value of simple, hearty meals. But recipes like this show that you don’t need fancy ingredients or elaborate techniques to create something delicious. Often, it’s the combination of fresh, wholesome ingredients and a little time that results in a meal that tastes better than anything you could get from a restaurant.
—
## **Why This Recipe Is Meaningful to Me**
As I made this dish in my own kitchen for the first time, I couldn’t help but think of my Nana and how much this meal meant to her. The fact that it was something she ate frequently growing up gave me a deeper appreciation for its significance. It wasn’t just about the flavors; it was about the memories it evoked.
Cooking the dish brought me closer to Nana, even though she’s no longer here with me. It was as if I could feel her presence in the kitchen, offering tips and encouraging me to take my time, just as she always did when she cooked. Every bite of the stew reminded me of the stories she told and the love she shared through her cooking.
This recipe is a way for me to honor her and continue the tradition of preparing food that brings comfort, connection, and joy to those I love. It’s a reminder that the simplest dishes can carry the most powerful memories.
—
## **Conclusion: A Dish to Cherish**
The dish my Nana loved growing up is a humble yet delicious one. It’s a meal that’s easy to make, full of flavor, and capable of bringing families together around the dinner table. Whether you’ve heard of it before or are trying it for the first time, I hope you enjoy the flavors and the memories it carries. And just as my Nana passed down this recipe to me, I hope it becomes a cherished meal in your own family for years to come.
There’s no need for fancy ingredients or complex techniques when it comes to making a meal that will warm your heart and soul. Sometimes, it’s the simple things—like a comforting stew filled with vegetables, meat, and flavorful broth—that make the biggest impact. So, gather your loved ones around, share a bowl of this delicious stew, and create your own memories that you’ll one day pass down to the next generation.
Bon appétit!
