Sweet And Savory Beef Stew For Two

Total Time: 2 hrs 8 mins Preparation Time: 20 mins Cook Time: 1 hr 48 mins

Ingredients

• Servings: 2
• 2 1/2 teaspoons olive oil (divided)
• 8 ounces bottom round beef roast (trimmed, cut into 3/4-inch cubes)
• 1 small sweet onion (halved and thinly sliced)
• 1 teaspoon dried thyme leaves
• 1/2 teaspoon dried rubbed sage
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1/4 teaspoon fresh ground pepper
• 2 teaspoons all-purpose flour
• 1 cup reduced-sodium beef broth
• 2 1/2 cups cubed peeled butternut squash
• 1/3 cup dried cherries or 1/3 cup cranberries or 1/3 cup raisins

Recipe

• 1 heat 1 1/2 teaspoons oil in a large ovenproof saucepan over medium heat. add beef and cook until browned on all sides, 6 to 8 minutes. transfer to a plate.
• 2 reduce heat to medium-low, add the remaining 1 teaspoon oil and sliced onion to the pan; cook, stirring often, for 1 minute.
• 3 stir in thyme, sage, salt and pepper; cook for 30 seconds.
• 4 return the beef to the pan and sprinkle with flour. cook, stirring often, until the flour browns, about 3 minutes.
• 5 preheat oven to 350°f.
• 6 pour in broth; scrape up any browned bits from the bottom of the pan. continue cooking until the liquid bubbles and thickens slightly, about 2 minutes.
• 7 stir in squash. cover the pan, or transfer mixture to an ovenproof casserole dish sprayed with cooking spray, and bake covered for 1 hour.
• 8 stir in dried fruit, cover and continue baking until the meat is tender when pierced with a fork, maybe up to 20-30 minutes more.
• 9 makes 2 servings, about 1 1/2 cups each.