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When you’re craving a hearty but healthy dinner this Persian inspired Herb and Beef Stew with rice is the perfect thing to make. Make it quick in the Instant Pot, or go low and slow in the slow cooker or oven (pick your method!). Using healthy ingredients like turmeric, lemon, spinach, and plenty of fresh herbs, this dish is hearty and full of flavor. Finish each bowl off with steamed rice and a sprinkle of goat cheese for a truly cozy winter dinner that’s vibrant, fresh, and delicious!
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Some of you may remember, but last year I shared a vegetarian version of this stew. I was so nervous to share that recipe. I wasn’t sure how everyone would feel about an herb stew, or about stew in general. However, over the last year, I’ve quickly learned that you all love a good stew recipe. Almost vegan, or more traditional, either way, you guys seemed to have really enjoyed the two stew recipes I shared.
Today’s recipe was made with one person in mind, my oldest brother, Creighton. The truth is that Creighton loves any kind of beef recipe, but stew and meatloaf are probably his two favorites. I’ve hesitated for years to make a beef stew, but finally caved in this past fall. The meatloaf? I’m still not ready for that, simply because the thought of photographing a loaf of meat scares the heck out of me. Stupid reason, I know, but I have the hardest time sharing recipes when I don’t also enjoy the photos. So for right now, I’m still avoiding the meatloaf…
Anyway, stew on the other hand? Stew I can create and not only make look decent, but taste even better. Enter this Persian inspired (inspired being the keyword) herb and beef stew. It’s made using Persian herbs and spices, it’s warming, hearty, and the perfect wintery meal.
Here are the details.
Start with the beef. The amazing thing about beef stew is that you can use a cheaper cut of meat, but still make it taste incredible. Cooking the beef low and slow helps to tenderize it and rid the beef of any toughness. If you don’t have time to cook low and slow, I also tested this recipe out in the instant pot and was surprised by just how good the beef turned out. It’s tender and not at all chewy. So while I prefer the slow cooker or oven, using the Instant Pot in a time crunch works wonderfully as well!
Here’s the key, I like to brown the beef before adding any kind of liquid. I know it’s an additional step, but I find it makes for a more flavorful stew. Brown the beef, then simply add in the liquids. Cover and cook until the beef is super tender. Pretty simple, nothing fancy, just the way any stew recipe should be.
Now, let’s talk about the herbs.
The herbs are what set this stew apart and make it especially delicious. Traditionally, a Persian herb stew has cilantro, parsley, and chives. Saffron is also typical, but it’s a more pricy ingredient and I didn’t have any in my pantry, so I left that out. I’m sure it would be delicious though. If you have some around, go ahead and add a pinch!
Since these are tender herbs, stir them in towards the end of cooking, along with white beans and baby spinach for even more nutrients and color. Hey, it’s Healthy January…the more proteins and greens the better!
And that’s it, just add the herbs and the stew will be complete and ready to enjoy!
Here is how you should serve this stew.
Most stews are served with potatoes or noodles, but this stew is different and is best served with rice. I like steamed basmati best, but any rice will do! You could even use quinoa for a healthier option. Spoon the rice into your bowls, spoon the stew over top, and finish with fresh herbs and crumbled goat cheese. The cheese, while not traditional, is a must, it adds a creamy, tangy touch with every bite.
Additionally, I would also serve this stew with fresh Naan. But that’s just me, I tend to pair most foods with Naan. It’s such a favorite over here. I usually find a reason to pair it with as many dishes as possible.
When I made this originally, it was cold and snowy, so perfect stew weather. We have snow in the forecast for this weekend, so I have a very good feeling this will be our Sunday night dinner. Already very much looking forward to it!
If you make this Persian herb and beef stew, be sure to leave a comment and/or give this recipe a rating! Above all, I love to hear from you guys and always do my best to respond to each and every comment. And of course, if you do make this recipe, don’t forget to tag me on Instagram! Looking through the photos of recipes you all have made is my favorite!
Persian Inspired Herb and Beef Stew with Rice
Ingredients
- 3 pounds beef chuck, trimmed and cubed
- kosher salt and black pepper
- 1/4 cup extra virgin olive oil
- 1 yellow onion, chopped
- 3 cloves garlic, minced or grated
- 1 teaspoon ground turmeric
- 1/2 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes
- 2 teaspoons lemon zest plus 2 tablespoons lemon juice
- 3-4 cups low sodium beef broth
- 1 14 ounce can fire roasted diced tomatoes
- 1 14 ounce can white beans, drained
- 2 cups baby spinach
- 1/2 cup fresh cilantro, roughly chopped
- 1/2 cup fresh parsley, roughly chopped
- 1/4 cup fresh dill, roughly chopped
- 1 tablespoon chopped chives
- 2 cups cooked basmati rice
- crumbled feta or goat cheese, for serving
- fresh mint, for serving
Instructions
Slow Cooker
- 1. Season the beef with salt and pepper. Heat the olive oil in a large skillet, sear the beef on both sides. Remove the beef and transfer to the slow cooker. 2. To the slow cooker, add the onion, garlic, turmeric, crushed red pepper, lemon zest, lemon juice, 3 cups broth, the tomatoes, and season with salt and pepper. Cover and cook on low for 6-8 hours. During the last hour of cooking, add the beans, spinach, cilantro, parsley, dill, and chives. If you would like a thinner consistency, add the remaining 1 cup broth.3. To serve, divide the rice among bowls and ladle the stew over top. Top with cheese and herbs.
Instant Pot
- 1. Switch the instant pot to sauté. Season the beef with salt and pepper. Sear the beef on both sides until browned. Turn the instant pot off.2. To the instant pot, add the onion, garlic, turmeric, crushed red pepper, lemon zest, lemon juice, 3 cups broth, the tomatoes, and season with salt and pepper. Seal the instant pot and cook on high pressure for 35 minutes.3. Switch the instant pot to sauté. Add the beans, spinach, cilantro, parsley, dill, and chives. Boil 8-10 minutes until the the sauce thickens slightly. If you would like a thinner consistency, add the remaining 1 cup broth.4. To serve, divide the rice among bowls and ladle the stew over top. Top with cheese and herbs.
Oven
- 1. Preheat the oven to 325 degrees F. Season the beef with salt and pepper. Heat the olive oil in a large oven-safe braiser, sear the beef on both sides. Remove the beef to a plate. Add the onion and cook 5 minutes until soft. Stir in the garlic, turmeric, crushed red pepper, and lemon zest, cook until the garlic is fragrant, about 1 minute. 2. Add back the beef. Pour in the 3 cups broth, the tomatoes, lemon juice, and season with salt and pepper. Cover and transfer to the oven. Cook for 2 ½ to 3 hours or until the beef is tender.3. Remove from the oven and place over low heat. Stir in the beans, spinach, cilantro, parsley, dill, and chives, and simmer 10-15 minutes, until the spinach is wilted and the stew is very fragrant. If you would like a thinner consistency, add the remaining 1 cup broth.4. To serve, divide the rice among bowls and ladle the stew over top. Top with cheese and herbs.
Nutrition
Nutritional information is only an estimate. The accuracy of the nutritional information for any recipe on this site is not guaranteed.
Did you make this recipe? Please rate & comment below.
Has anyone tried using lamb in this recipe? I made it exactly as instructed and it was delicious…but I feel like lamb would also go great with this recipe.
Hi Heather,
Awesome! So glad to hear this recipe turned out well for you, thanks for making it! I think lamb would be a great option here. Have a great rest of the week:) Xxx
Delicious, I added sweet potato and carrot and used Danish feta. Loved it!
Hi Tahlia,
Awesome!! Thanks a lot for trying this recipe and your comment, love to hear it turned out nicely for you! Happy New Year!!🎆 xxT
This was really good—my 7 and 9 yo kids cleaned their plates. I did make an inadvertent variation by ordering minced/ground beef not chopped or a whole chuck (accident of comparing ratings and losing track of UK terminology). But: it worked well! I look forward to trying this as it really should be.
Hey there,
Perfect! I appreciate you trying this recipe and your comment, so glad to hear it turned out well for you! xx
Hi everyone, would it be okay to make this a day ahead? Thank you.
Hi Stacey,
Yes, that will work nicely for you! Please let me know if you have any other questions, I hope you love this dish! xT
Made this last night and it was a huge hit! My picky kids even had seconds. We did on the stovetop in a Dutch oven.
Hey Jordan,
Wonderful! So glad to hear that you enjoyed this dish, thanks for making it! x
This was so delicious, and honestly, so easy. I chose to cook this in my Dutch oven for three hours. The meat was so tender. The leftovers are even tender. It’s important to have fresh herbs. It really takes this meal to the next level. Added to favorites!
Hey Nicole,
Thanks so much! So glad to hear that this recipe turned out well for you, I appreciate you making it! xx
I have made this recipe at least 10 times in the Instant Pot and I swear that the key to tender meat is letting the IP ‘natural release’ after the 35 minute cook time. It took me a few attempts to figure that out, so I figured I would share to help anyone who has had issues with that. Love this recipe SO much! Sooooo flavorful and nourishing!
Hey Lindsay,
Thanks so much for making this recipe so often and your comment, love to hear that it always turns out well for you! Xx
I’ll be making this in the instant pot, so thanks for the heads up! I’m making this for thanksgiving and loading into homemade bread bowls.
Followed the recipe exactly and it was delicious! Everyone said I should make it again. Despite being a beef stew, the lemon and herbs made it taste light.
Hey Rebecca,
Happy Monday!! Thanks a lot for trying this recipe and your comment, I love that it was enjoyed! xT
Love this recipe for its ease, crowd-pleasing ability and the WOW factor! We use this as our go-to meal when having guests for dinner. My kids ages 1-6 all eat this with requests for seconds. I’ve done the slow cooker and the instapot cooking options, which both worked well. What a flavorful, yet easy dish!
Hey Jen,
Happy Friday!! So glad to hear that this dish turned out well for you, thanks so much for making it and your comment! xT
Absolutely love this – I have made it 3 times in my crock pot and it so easy to make. My husband and son are so happy when I make it. The house smells wonderful while it’s cooking. I enjoy having the leftovers for lunch too. Thank you for sharing this recipe!
Hey Suzy,
Wonderful! So glad to hear this recipe turned out for you, thanks for giving it a try! Happy Friday! xT
I’ve made this a few times now and everyone loved it! Only change I made is I added a bit of cardamon and cloves.
Hi! Thank you SO much for trying out this recipe, I’m so glad you enjoyed it! xT
Made the instant pot version today and YUM! I never would’ve considered adding cilantro, lemon juice, or dill to a beefy stew! The flavor of cilantro was my favorite part.😋 Thanks so much for this recipe!
Thank you SO much Kristen! xT
I honestly cant believe this recipe doesn’t have more reviews. It was SO good. I made it in the crockpot and put it over cauliflower rice. My husband told me this has to go in our meal rotation! Topped with feta cheese…chefs kiss. Thank you so much for this recipe! Make this. NOW.
Thank you SO much! I always love reading comments and seeing that the recipe was a success! Have a great day! 🙂 xT
My wife and I found this recipe a little underwhelming.
Hey Alex! Thank you so much for trying out the recipe! I’m so sorry you didn’t enjoy it! xT
One of my husband’s favorite meals! Simple and flavorful. It’s very good!
Hi Kit,
Thanks so much for making this dish so often and sharing your feedback, I’m so glad to hear it always turns out well for you! Happy New Year!🥳🥂 xx
Made this recipe today for this week’s lunch. The recipe was super easy to follow. The stew is flavorful and my house smells amazing.
Thank you so much Jenn! So glad you enjoyed this recipe! xT