Slow Cooker Spicy Beef Stew

Is it cold outside or maybe raining?  Well it doesn't have to be to enjoy this amazing concoction of savory slow cooked beef and spices that sing with harmony as one.  This is one of my favorite recipes to eat in a bowl for dinner or even pack up and take to work for lunch.  Either way you are sure to get plenty of paleo nutrients without sacrificing flavor.  Ready to dive in, here we go!   

Make sure you have at least a 6 quart slow cooker.  This is the one I use at home (click here).  If you don't have one that size and need to scale down reduce the ingredients by 1/3 accordingly.  Ingredients are as follows: 

- 3 lbs beef cubes (grass fed is preferred) 

- 2 lbs sweet potatoes or turnips chopped 

- 1/4 cup red wine  (Marsala wine also works well) 

- 2 bell peppers diced (green, red, or yellow) 

- 1 pack cremini mushrooms sliced (8oz) 

- 2 stalks celery diced 

- 6 cloves garlic (whole) 

- 1 cup baby carrots (whole) 

- 6 oz tomato paste 

- 32 oz beef stock 

- 2 onions diced (yellow or red) 

- 2-3 jalapeños 

- 1/2 bunch of cilantro 

- 3.75tb arrowroot starch (optional) 

- 2tb butter  

- 2tb garam masala (web search for this and/or pickup from your local South Asian store) 

- 2-3tb kosher salt 

- 2tb black pepper 

- 1tb chili powder 

- 1tb paprika 

- 1tb Gallic salt 

- 1-2tb cumin seeds or powder 

- 1tb coconut or olive oil  

- 1 teaspoon red pepper flakes 

Put the coconut or olive oil into the slow cooker and use your hand to coat the bottom of the pot and 2-3 inches up the sides so none of the ingredients will stick.  Add the bell peppers and onions as the base.  Then add the beef, potatoes/turnips, mushrooms, celery, garlic, baby carrots, onions, and jalapenos to the slow cooker.  After that, add all other ingredients EXCEPT the arrowroot starch and cilantro.  Stir so that the tomatoes paste combines with the beef stock.  For the arrowroot, fill a glass with a 1/2 cup of water and add the arrowroot to it.  Use a spoon and stir until a cloudy liquid/paste is formed.  Add this liquid to the slow cooker mix.  This will help thicken the stew as it cooks.  Remember the arrowroot is optional so skip this step if you are not using it.  Cook covered on low heat for 8-10 hrs.  After cooking is complete add the 1/2 bunch of cilantro and stir to evenly distribute.  Admire your creation and then enjoy! 

Makes 6-8 servings