Description
This recipe features a hearty and comforting dish of ground beef simmered with vegetables and seasoned with herbs and Worcestershire sauce, topped with light and fluffy dumplings made from a simple seasoned flour dough. The dumplings steam gently atop the savory beef mixture, creating a rich, satisfying meal perfect for family dinners or cozy nights in.
Ingredients
Scale
Beef Mixture
- 1 lb (450g) ground beef
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 1 small onion, chopped
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 2 cups (480ml) beef broth
- 1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
- 1 teaspoon dried thyme
- 1 teaspoon salt
- ½ teaspoon black pepper
- 1½ cups (200g) frozen mixed vegetables (peas, carrots, corn, green beans)
- 2 tablespoons all-purpose flour
Dumplings
- 1 cup (125g) all-purpose flour
- 2 teaspoons baking powder
- ½ teaspoon salt
- ½ teaspoon garlic powder (optional)
- ½ teaspoon dried parsley
- ½ cup (120ml) milk
- 2 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted
Instructions
- Cook the Beef: In a large skillet or Dutch oven, heat olive oil over medium heat. Add ground beef and cook until browned, breaking it apart as it cooks. Once browned, drain any excess fat from the pan.
- Sauté Aromatics: Stir in the chopped onion and minced garlic into the beef. Cook for 2 to 3 minutes until the onion softens and becomes translucent.
- Thicken the Sauce: Sprinkle 2 tablespoons of flour over the beef mixture and stir well to coat. Gradually pour in the beef broth while stirring continuously to prevent lumps. Add Worcestershire sauce, dried thyme, salt, black pepper, and the frozen mixed vegetables. Allow the mixture to simmer for 5 to 7 minutes, stirring occasionally, until it thickens slightly.
- Prepare Dumpling Dough: In a separate bowl, combine 1 cup all-purpose flour, baking powder, salt, garlic powder (if using), and dried parsley. Add the milk and melted butter, stirring until a sticky dough forms.
- Drop and Cook Dumplings: Using a spoon, drop spoonfuls of the dumpling dough onto the simmering beef mixture in the pot. Spread them evenly but do not stir. Cover the pot with a lid and reduce heat to low. Let the dumplings cook covered for 15 minutes without lifting the lid to ensure proper steaming.
- Serve: Remove the pot from heat and serve the hot beef and dumplings in bowls. Garnish with additional parsley if desired for a fresh finish.
Notes
- Do not lift the lid while the dumplings are cooking to ensure they steam correctly and become fluffy.
- Ground turkey or chicken can be substituted for beef for a lighter version.
- For a thicker sauce, let the beef mixture simmer a few minutes longer before adding dumplings.
- Use whole milk for richer dumplings, or substitute with plant-based milk for a dairy-free option.
- Leftover beef and dumplings can be refrigerated for up to 3 days and reheated gently on the stovetop.
