Stew

Guide Note

Stew is a mixture of meats and/or vegetables cooked in a small amount of liquid at a low temperature for several hours. Stews are typically cooked in water, but wine and beer can be used instead. Seasonings and other spices can also be added for more flavoring.

Fast Facts

1. Common in all cultures
2. Uses less tender cuts of meat
3. Can be prepared with range, oven, or crock-pot
4. Can be cooked in water, wine, stock, or beer
5. Ingredients typically larger than those in soup
6. Can be thickened with flour

Since prehistoric times, boiling has been used to prepare and cook food. Evidence shows that tribes of the 19th and 20th centuries boiled their food. Turtle shells were used as bowls and the meat of the turtle was combined with other ingredients. Some cultures also used clam shells in which to boil foods.

The Roman cookbook Apicius contains recipes for lamb and fish stew. Hungarian Goulash can be traced back to the 9th century. Many popular recipes for stews like gumbo were published in the 19th century.