Slow Cooker Greek Beef Stew with Gremolata + 80 Days of Dinner

80 Days!? Apparently it's been quite a bit of time since I pulled a blog post together. I've continued trying to figure out a good plan for dinnertime as the kids have become busier and busier in the evenings. I've got a better handle on it now, and it includes a lot of soup, chili, and other slow cooker meals like this stew. Plus, leftovers are life. We're also nearing the end of our January Whole30, so I'll have a whole new slate of compliant meals up shortly. But this stew is one of them! I like to double this recipe (it still fits in my slow cooker when doubled) and freeze half of it. Don't skimp on the gremolata -- it adds a nice bright note and is a refreshing touch of citrus to the middle of winter meals. Everyone loves it and it gets better and better as you let it, well, stew.

Slow Cooker Greek Beef Stew with Gremolata
(merged + adapted from Kalyn's Kitchen and Melissa Joulwan)

Stew: 

Ingredients: 

- 1-2 tbsp olive oil 

- 1 onion, diced 

- 2 lbs trimmed beef stew meat, cut roughly into bite-sized pieces 

- 1 cup beef stock

- 2 cans (14.5 oz each) diced tomatoes with juice 

- 1/4 cup balsamic vinegar

 - 1 jar kalamata olives, roughly chopped 

- 1/2 cup garlic cloves, roughly chopped 

- 2 tbsp finely chopped fresh rosemary

- 2 tbsp finely chopped fresh parsley 

- 1 small jar capers, drained 

- fresh ground salt and black pepper to taste

- walnuts for serving (optional)

Directions: 

1. Heat small amount of olive oil in a skillet or dutch oven over medium-high heat. Cook diced onions about 5 minutes, until starting to brown. Add onions to the slow cooker.

2. Add a little more oil, then add beef in batches, cooking until browned on all sides -- about 10-15 minutes. Don't overcrowd the pan -- you want the beef to brown nicely on all sides. Add the beef to the slow cooker. 

3. Add 1 cup of beef stock to the pan and simmer a few minutes until slightly reduced, scraping up brown bits. Then add that stock to the slow cooker. 

4. Add remaining ingredients to the slow cooker (except walnuts) and stir to combine well. Cook on low 8-10 hours. Season to taste and serve with walnuts and gremolata (below). 

Gremolata: 

- 1/2 cup fresh parsley leaves, finely minced (about 2 tbsp)

- zest from 1 orange (about 2 tbsp)

- 2 cloves garlic, minced 

Mix all in a small bowl and sprinkle over stew before serving. 

*          *          *

Day 1 (W) - Beef Enchilada Bake with Cilantro Avocado Cream Sauce
Day 2 (Th) - leftovers
Day 3 (F) - dinner out
Day 4 (Sat) - dinner out
Day 5 (Sun) - Paleo BBQ Chicken Casserole; roasted cauliflower

Day 6 (M) - Za'atar Lamb Chops (although I used pork chops); Feta Chopped Salad; breakfast potatoes
Day 7 (T) - Healthy Turkey Chili 
Day 8 (W) - Plated Miso Salmon and Quinoa Bowls with Roasted Sweet Potatoes, Cucumber Salad, and Sriracha Mayo
Day 9 (Th) - leftovers
Day 10 (F) - Thyme Roasted Chicken with Grapes and Burrata
Day 11 (Sat) - dinner out
Day 12 (Sun) - dinner out

Day 13 (M) - Basil Pomodoro Shrimp with Polenta; roasted broccoli
Day 14 (T) - Slow Cooker Tacos Al Pastor
Day 15 (W) - brinner
Day 16 (Th) - Kane's birthday dinner: filet mignon; baked potatoes; Caesar salad
Day 17 (F) - leftovers
Day 18 (Sat) - dinner out
Day 19 (Sun) - Chicken Pesto Stuffed Sweet Potatoes; salad

Day 20 (M) - Greek Fish Tacos
Day 21 (T) - brinner
Day 22 (W) - Grilled Flank Steak with Chimichurri; sweet potato fries
Day 23 (Th) - Salmon; roasted cauliflower; salad
Day 24 (F) - dinner out
Day 25 (Sat) - dinner out
Day 26 (Sun) - dinner out

Day 27 (M) - Easy Italian Chicken Skillet; spaghetti squash
Day 28 (T) - Grilled Steak and Onion Salad; mashed sweet potatoes; salad
Day 29 (W) - dinner out
Day 30 (Th) - Healing Paleo Chicken Soup; roasted broccoli
Day 31 (F) - Cider Apple and Sage Roasted Pork Chops; polenta; broccoli
Day 32 (Sat) - All American Chili
Day 33 (Sun) - 10-Minute Lemon Thyme Scallops; mashed sweet potatoes; green beans

Day 34 (M) - Greek Lamb Meatballs with Avocado Goddess Sauce
Day 35 (T) - Slow Cooker Maple and Dijon Pot Roast; baked potatoes; salad
Day 36 (W) - brinner
Day 37 (Th) - leftovers
Day 38 (F) - Plated Smoked Salmon Pizza with Whipped Goat Cheese, Capers, and Tomato; salad
Day 39 (Sat) - dinner out
Day 40 (Sun) - dinner out

Day 41 (M) - dinner out
Day 42 (T) - Smoky Paleo Slow Cooker BBQ Chicken; sweet potatoes; green beans
Day 43 (W) - Slow Cooker Greek Beef Stew with Gremolata
Day 44 (Th) - All American Chili
Day 45 (F) - Spicy Lamb and Beef Kofta with Greek Yogurt Sauce; roasted cauliflower
Day 46 (Sat) - dinner out
Day 47 (Sun) - Honey Garlic Pork Chops; cauliflower gnocchi; green beans

Day 48 (M) - leftovers
Day 49 (T) - Healing Paleo Chicken Soup; salad
Day 50 (W) - dinner out
Day 51 (Th) - Thanksgiving!! For apps we had shrimp cocktail, charcuterie plate, and Caviar Waffle Bites. For din we had Maple Bourbon Glazed Turkey Breast, Caramelized Onion + Bacon Gravy, Grapefruit-Apricot Cranberry Relish with Rosemary, Sausage + Fennel Stuffing, Boxed Stuffing (for Joel!), Creamy Spinach Bake, Roasted Beets + Charred Green Beans, Cinnamon-Spiced Candied Sweet Potatoes, Ultra Creamy Mashed Potatoes, and rolls. And my in-laws brought a bunch of pies for dessert!
Day 52 (F) - leftovers
Day 53 (Sat) - dinner out
Day 54 (Sun) - leftovers

Day 55 (M) - dinner out
Day 56 (T) - One Pot Cheesy Taco Skillet; cauliflower
Day 57 (W) - Blue Apron One-Pan Chicken and "Dumplings" with Carrots + Thyme
Day 58 (Th) - dinner out
Day 59 (F) - Blue Apron Seared Chicken and Sour Cherry Sauce
Day 60 (Sat) - dinner out
Day 61 (Sun) - dinner out

Day 62 (M) - Spicy Lamb and Beef Kofta with Greek Yogurt Sauce; Easy Greek Pasta Salad
Day 63 (T) - Healing Paleo Chicken Soup
Day 64 (W) - Blue Apron Seared Steaks with Loaded Mashed Potatoes
Day 65 (Th) - dinner out
Day 66 (F) - dinner out
Day 67 (Sat) - dinner out
Day 68 (Sun) - Healing Paleo Chicken Soup and latkes

Day 69 (M) - Blue Apron Za'atar-Spiced Chicken Pitas with Tzatziki & Pickled Peppers
Day 70 (T) - All American Chili
Day 71 (W) - Garlic-Basil Shrimp and Grits with Cherry Tomato Sauce
Day 72 (Th) - Beef Enchilada Bake with Cilantro Avocado Cream Sauce
Day 73 (F) - dinner out
Day 74 (Sat) - Plated Sesame Beef Bowls with Snap Peas and Spinach
Day 75 (Sun) - dinner out

Day 76 (M) - dinner out
Day 77 (T) - Cool Ranch Shredded Chicken Tacos
Day 78 (W) - Plated Blue Cheese Burgers with Caramelized Onions, Cranberries, and Brussels Sprouts
Day 79 (Th) - Paleo Jalapeño Popper Chicken Chili
Day 80 (F) - Spicy Lamb and Beef Kofta with Greek Yogurt Sauce