Beef and Dumpling Stew
Beef and Dumpling Stew is a hearty main course of tender beef simmered in a rich stock with fluffy cheddar and parsley dumplings on top. The Thermomix TM7 handles everything hands-free: it weighs, kneads the dumpling dough and slow-cooks the stew to restaurant-quality tenderness while you get on with your day.
About this recipe
Beef and Dumpling Stew with the Thermomix TM7 is the ultimate comfort food recipe for chilly evenings. This classic one-pot main course pairs slow-simmered beef in a rich, savoury stock with golden dumplings made from plain flour, butter, baking powder and mature cheddar cheese, finished with fresh parsley. Searching for a quick weeknight dinner or a make-ahead weekend meal? This all-in-one kitchen machine takes the effort out of every step. The TM7 kneads the dumpling dough to exactly the right consistency, while gentle low-temperature cooking — inspired by restaurant confit techniques from the manual — transforms budget-friendly stewing beef into meltingly tender bites without constant supervision. The dumplings steam above the stew, soaking up the beef stock flavours while staying wonderfully light inside. Serve it straight from the mixing bowl lid to the table, with crusty bread for mopping up every last drop of the gravy.
Preparation tips
- Cut the beef into even, bite-sized cubes so every piece becomes equally tender during cooking; uneven chunks will cook at different rates and leave some pieces chewy while others fall apart.
- Keep the butter for the dumpling dough cold before the Thermomix works it in, as cold butter creates pockets of steam during cooking, giving your cheddar dumplings a lighter, fluffier centre.
- Chop the fresh parsley finely and add half to the stew and half to the dumpling mix; a little extra grated cheddar over the finished dumplings adds a lovely golden, savoury crust.
- For a thicker gravy, dust the beef cubes in some of the plain flour before browning; the flour also helps the stock reduce into a glossy sauce that clings to the meat.
Recipe variations
- Make it gluten-free by swapping the plain flour in both the stew and dumplings for a gluten-free self-raising blend, and check that the beef stock cube is certified gluten-free for a coeliac-friendly version.
- For a lighter spring variation, replace half the beef with cubed celeriac and carrots, add a handful of frozen peas in the last minutes, and use half cheddar and half fresh herbs in the dumplings for a fresher flavour.
Thermomix TM7 Benefits
- Built-in scale - The Thermomix weighs the plain flour and butter for the dumplings directly in the bowl to the gram. [weighing]. [Built-in Scale]
- Dough kneading - The TM7 kneads the cheddar dumpling dough until soft and elastic, ready to shape in seconds. [kneading]. [Multi-Function]
- Precise heating - The Thermomix gently heats the beef stock at low temperature so the meat turns spoon-tender. [heating]. [Precision Control]
- Gentle steaming - The Varoma of the TM7 steams the parsley dumplings fluffy above the simmering stew. [steaming]. [Multi-Function]
- Fine mixing - The Thermomix mixes the baking powder and salt evenly through the dough for consistent rising. [mixing]. [Multi-Function]
Ingredients
- cheddar cheese
- fresh parsley
- plain flour
- butter
- baking powder
- salt
- ground black pepper
- fresh milk
- egg
- plain flour