The flavors in a slow-cooked beef stew improve as it sits for a day or two, so it is a perfect make-ahead for a dinner party. Buy nicely marbled meat, such as chuck, for this recipe.

Makes 10 servings, about 1 1/3 cups each

ACTIVE TIME: 50 minutes

TOTAL TIME: 4 hours

EASE OF PREPARATION: Easy

Bouquet Garni
2 large green leek leaves (about 6 inches long)
1 bay leaf
1 stalk celery
2 sprigs fresh parsley, with stems
3 sprigs fresh thyme
1 2-inch-long strip tangerine or orange peel

Stew
3 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil, divided
2 ounces pancetta or bacon, cut into 1/2-inch pieces
3 pounds beef stew meat, such as chuck, trimmed and cut into 1- to 1 1/2-inch pieces
2 teaspoons kosher salt, divided
1/2 teaspoon freshly ground pepper, divided
2 medium yellow or red onions, chopped
3 cloves garlic, chopped
1 1/2 pounds carrots, sliced into 1-inch rounds
2 tablespoons tomato paste
1 pound button mushrooms, halved if small, quartered if large
1 bottle (750 ml) full-bodied red wine, such as Burgundy or Pinot Noir
1/2 cup chopped fresh parsley
Freshly grated zest of 1 tangerine or orange

1. Preheat oven to 250°F.
2. To assemble bouquet garni: Place one leek leaf on the counter. Top with bay leaf, celery stalk, parsley sprigs, thyme sprigs and tangerine (or orange) peel. Place the second leek leaf on top and tie the bundle together in four spots with kitchen string. Set aside.
3. To prepare stew: Heat 1 tablespoon oil in an ovenproof Dutch oven over medium-high heat. Add pancetta (or bacon) and cook until barely brown, 1 to 2 minutes. Transfer to a paper towel-lined plate, leaving any drippings in the pot.
4. Add beef in batches (do not crowd the pot) and cook until browned on all sides. Transfer to a large bowl and season with 1 teaspoon salt and 1/4 teaspoon pepper.
5. Add 1 tablespoon oil to the pot and add onions and garlic. Cook, stirring, until the onions are translucent, 3 to 4 minutes. Add carrots and cook, stirring, until they begin to soften, 4 to 5 minutes. Stir in tomato paste. Season with the remaining 1 teaspoon salt and 1/4 teaspoon pepper. Transfer the mixture to the bowl with the beef.
6. Reduce heat to medium and add the remaining 1 tablespoon oil to the pot. Add mushrooms and cook, stirring occasionally, until they are tender, 5 to 7 minutes. Transfer to a small bowl; set aside.
7. Pour wine into the pot and bring to a boil, scraping up any browned bits. Return the browned beef, the carrot mixture and the reserved pancetta (or bacon) to the pot along with the bouquet garni. Press down on the beef and vegetables, making sure to submerge them completely in the wine; if necessary, add just enough hot water to make sure they are covered. Cut a piece of parchment paper to fit the pot and press it directly on top of the stew, covering it completely.
8. Transfer the stew to the oven and cook, with the lid off, until the beef is tender enough to cut with a fork, about 3 hours. Check every hour to be sure the ingredients stay submerged in liquid during the entire cooking time. If too much wine evaporates, add a little hot water to make up for the loss. During the last 15 minutes of cooking, stir in the reserved mushrooms.
9. Remove and discard the bouquet garni. Combine chopped parsley and tangerine (or orange) zest in a small bowl and scatter on top of the stew just before serving.

NUTRITION INFORMATION: Per serving: 351 calories; 15 g fat (5 g sat, 7 g mono); 84 mg cholesterol; 14 g carbohydrate; 26 g protein; 3 g fiber; 419 mg sodium; 637 mg potassium.
Nutrition bonus: Vitamin A (210% daily value), Zinc (53% dv), Iron & Vitamin C (20% dv), Potassium (18% dv).
1 Carbohydrate Serving
Exchanges: 2 vegetable, 3 lean meat, 1 fat

MAKE AHEAD TIP: Prepare through Step 8, let cool to room temperature, cover and refrigerate for up to 2 days. Reheat at a gentle simmer on the stovetop for about 30 minutes or in a 350°F oven for 1 1/4 hours before serving. | Equipment: Kitchen string, parchment paper

Served the stew the day after preparing it. Meat and vegetables were very tender. Adding the orange zest as garnish provided an incredible burst of flavor. Barley pilaf was the side dish. Would consider this a meal for company.

Anonymous, Boerne, TX

The flavors in this dish were really good, especially as leftovers. The gravy/sauce was quite thin, although flavorful, so I would suggest doing something to thicken it up. We served it with the recommended farro and it was enjoyed by all, even my fussy daughter.

Ellen, Oakton, VA

I love this stew. I made it in my slow cooker on low for 9 hours, and used shallots instead of onions. The flavors were perfectly melded and the wine taste was a flavor instead of a presence by the end of the slow cooking process. Now, what to serve with this? A salad? A starch?

Emily, Brooklyn, NY