Beef Stew

Preparation

Heat the oil in a pan over medium heat. 

Add the cubes of meat and brown them on all sides. This adds extra flavor, but you can also skip this if you want to save time.

Sprinkle the flour over the meat and stir well so that the meat is evenly coated. Let it cook briefly (1-2 minutes).

Place the meat in the slow cooker and add the sliced carrots, onions, garlic, tomato paste, bay leaves, thyme, and paprika powder.

Pour the stock (or water with a stock cube) over the mixture in the slow cooker. 

Stir everything well and season with salt and pepper to taste. 

Optionally add the balsamic vinegar for extra depth of flavor.

Set the slow cooker to the low setting (LOW) and let the meat cook slowly for 7-8 hours. The meat will become wonderfully tender and the flavors will blend well.

Remove the bay leaves before serving the stew. 

Serve the stew with mashed potatoes, rice, or a nice piece of bread to soak up the rich sauce.