CrockPot Ginger Beef with Onions and Garlic


Day 214.

Good morning! I can not wrap my brain around the fact that it's August already.

August!

We had this for dinner last night before heading to the park for a community concert. It was a rather chilly night, and I was glad that we had some hot food in our bellies before heading out.

The Ingredients.

--1-2 pounds beef strips
--1/2 cup broth, white wine, beer, or apple juice. I used chicken broth.
--1 yellow onion, cut in rings
--1 whole head of garlic, peeled
--1/2 t ground black pepper
--1 inch peeled and grated ginger

The Directions.

Spray the inside of your crockpot with cooking spray, or put a bit of olive oil in the bottom. Add your meat. Chop up the onion, and peel all of the garlic. Throw that into the pot. Add the ginger and black pepper. Top with whatever liquid you plan on using.

Cover and cook on low for 6-8 hours, depending on how thick of a piece of meat you are using, and whether or not it's frozen. I used fresh beef strips and it cooked VERY quickly on low---it was completely done after 6 hours.

I should have used a smaller crockpot. This is a good amount of food for a 4qt. If you are going to use a larger crockpot, consider adding a whole cup of liquid.

The Verdict.

I served this over brown rice pasta. I was pleased with how tender the meat was and how the garlic caramelized. I'd make this again, but in a smaller crockpot. my 6 qt was much too big for this amount of food. The meat wasn't spicy, and the kids ate it fine. I didn't offer them any of the garlic or onions.

This will give you stinky breath. Consider yourself warned.

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Posted by: Stephanie O'Dea | A Year of Slow Cooking at August 01, 2008

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What they say about this article

  1. Anonymous8/01/2008

    OOOO! This sounds awesome! Let me just add ginger and beef to the shopping list ;)

    BTW, where do you find gluten free broth? All the brands at the grocery store seem to have wheat
    :(

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  2. Hi Jen, with the new allergen labeling laws, it seems that manufacturers are doing a good job of labeling things for what they are--rather than hiding wheat in modified food starch. That is so helpful when shopping! I have good luck with the Safeway organics brand of broth, some of the Trader Joe's broths, and Swanson. Swanson is owned by Campbells, and I don't think their free range broth is GF, but their regular is. Here's what Campells has to say:allergen labeling. And of course you could make your own, in the crockpot! :-)

    xxo
    steph

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  3. I really enjoy reading your posts, but I was troubled with some, not knowing what size crocks you used for your recipes. So I was wondering, if you would'nt mind adding to your ingredients lists in the future, the size pot that your recipe was for. I only have a 3.5 qt pot, and might need to scale down some of your larger recipes. I think it would be helpful to know what your recipe was originally intended for.

    Bruce

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  4. awesome idea, Bruce. I will try to remember to do that each time.

    most of the dinner recipes I have done have been in a 6qt Smart Pot---that's my go-to crockpot-- and the desserts and stuff have been done in smaller ones, and I pretty much always have said the size. If you have any questions on a particular dish and how it will perform in a 3.5 qt, feel free to shoot me an email. I'll try my hardest to help you out.

    --steph

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  5. I get a new crockpot for my anniversary (my husband is just thrilled with you, as is my brother in law, my sister in law, celiac friends, and generally the universe) and didn't know what kind to get. Is there one with a timer that I can set to start cooking and it will switch to warm?

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  6. Hi Molly, happy anniversary! I'm LOLing at the romanticism of the crockpot... :-)

    I have a 6 qt Smart-Pot that I use for pretty much everything. If you're going to be out of the house all day and don't think that you'll have enough food to fill a 6qt at least 2/3 of the way full, go for a 4qt. I have this one, and got it at Target 2 yrs ago for $29. But this one comes with a "free" little dipper! and since it's you anniversary and all...

    :-0
    -steph

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  7. Thanks for all the great recipes! I just discovered your blog the other day and I am having a great time looking at all your posts thus far. I'm always looking for new things to try in my crock pot, but am a little wary of trying new things (I've had too many that aren't good and don't turn out.) So with your "verdict" along with the recipe I feel a little more confident to try them.

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  8. Anonymous8/01/2008

    Thanks Stephanie! I'll check again tonight when I hit the (other) grocery store :)

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  9. I just was referred here by a friend. I just posted on my new crockpot/slow cooker I bought. http://terryandmelanie.blogspot.com/2008/07/new-addition-to-family.html This is great!!

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  10. Thanks, Stephanie! I know, he's a die-hard romantic (LOL). I'm expecting car parts in the shape of flowers for Valentine's...

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  11. Looks incredibly tasty, I think I'll be thawing some beef for this later on in the upcoming week. Thanks a bundle. I found your site via a post on a great knitting board and I'm thrilled to have such a great source of crockpot recipes.

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  12. I just wanted to say how jealous I am after you said you had chilly weather. It was 107 here yesterday and supposed to be around that again today. I'm melting and our A/C only works on one side of the house! Good thing I have lots of good crockpot recipes to choose from, because I am NOT turning on the oven. Or even the stovetop.

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  13. Another awesome, hubby pleasin, kid pleasin meal - doubled it for our fam in my 6 qrt, used round steak in strips.....awesome flavor, thanks again - your getting a reputation here ....a good one :)

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  14. Anonymous8/09/2008

    Stinky Breath! lol If everyone has Garlic it cancels it out. Just ask Rachael Ray...

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  15. I made this earlier this week. It was awesome! However, I am thinking about adding a can of chilies the next time. For some reason I kept want spicey/heat. Have you tried that yet? Or Chili Garlic Sauce?

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  16. Anonymous9/07/2008

    YUM-O! (as Rachel Ray would say...)
    I didn't see anyone talk about Rachel Ray's broths...they say on the package uner Allery information, and I quote, "does not contain milk, milk by-products, eggs, legumes, tree nuts, wheat, crustacean fish, or shellfish. NO MSG. GLUTEN-FREE."
    I was thrilled! it's her all-natural Stock-in-a-box and it definitely lives up to the RR standard of taste.

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  17. I just found your website. This recipe was the first one I've ever made in a crockpot! It is a winner in our house

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  18. Anonymous2/04/2009

    Hi Steph,

    I just discovered your blog and am super excited about trying all your recipes - got my slow cooker for Christmas so I'm an absolute newbie!

    This was the first recipe I tried and unfortunately something must have gone wrong because it came out really strange-tasting... the beef and sauce were both very bland, there was a funny overcooked, almost metallic garlicky taste to it all (although I only cooked it for 7 hours on low), and overall I didn't enjoy it. I suspect it's the garlic that's causing the latter at least because I've noticed that strange overdone garlicky taste in other garlic dishes I've tried. My garlic didn't caramelise, as you said yours did - it just turned soft and disintegrated (ditto onions). Is it better to brown everything first? Help, o crockpot lady!

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  19. hi i'm new to ur site and i gotta tell ya ur recipes are awesome from what i've seen .. so far i've tried the 40 garlic chicken recipe... sometime this week i'll be tryin out the layered steak dinner.
    But i was wondering one thing.. would it be possible for u to put next to the meat in the ingredient list if we should use frozen or fresh cuz otherwise i'd be using fresh all the time .oh and also what does DH MSG GF and so forth mean .. am new to these abbreviations .. thanks and btw AWESOME site keep up the good work

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  20. Anonymous3/16/2011

    Hi! I just discovered your blog! Im in love with it! I scaled down the ingredients in this recipe and my family loved it! With 6 kids in the house, Ive been a crock pot lover! Tina!

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