recipe: beef and borlotti bean stew

I made this recipe last night, for dinner.  Yes, two new recipes in one day – this is a record for me!  I’ll have to make sure to edit this post to include how good it tastes as leftovers, when we eat the rest tomorrow night.  Generally a nice, easy recipe that tasted good.  Would work well as comfort food in winter.  I’ll be making this one again.

Link:  Beef and borlotti bean stew, from Taste.com.au.

Taste:  Delicious.  The beans were a bit…. crunchy?  Just a bit.  This is despite the fact I put them in boiled water twice, rather than the once indicated in the recipe.  However, the red wine and beef stock gravy was delicious, and it all tasted good.  I’d cook this one again on its taste.

Difficulty: Easy.  All you need to be able to do is brown meat and simmer stuff.  Even I could manage this on the first try.

Approximate cost of ingredients:  $21.50.  However, it makes a lot, and I extended it by serving steamed vegies alongside.  It will do us for two dinners (and SO is a big eater).

Quickness or otherwise:  Slow.  It took me nearly two hours, including the vegies, dishing up process etc.  However, it looks after itself most of the time, so ideal for a weekend when you’re doing other things, or maybe even in the slow cooker.

Other comments: SO liked this.  It took us both a bit of getting used to, with the beans being a bit on the crunchy side, but it wasn’t unpleasant, just unexpected.  (They weren’t undercooked, they just weren’t mushy.)

Overall:  Recommended if you have the time.  Maybe not something to try after a long day at work.

Score:  7.5/10.  I’d say more, but it did take a while to cook.