Grandpa Clarence's Hawaii-Style Beef Stew (Rich and Tangy!)
My Hawaiian Grandpa's famous Hawaii-Style Beef Stew is a treasured family recipe that brings the flavors of the islands straight to your table.
A tangy, rich tomato gravy simmers with onions, carrots, potatoes, and beef until perfectly tender.
Serve it over sticky rice for the ultimate comfort food experience – whether you use the stovetop, slow cooker, or Instant Pot, this dish is a must-try!
2 pounds beef chuck, trimmed and cubed into 1-inch pieces
2 teaspoons kosher salt
2 teaspoons ground black pepper
2 stalks celery, finely sliced
4 medium carrots, peeled as desired and cut into 1-inch pieces
3 medium yellow onions, peeled and cut into 1-inch pieces
3 medium Yukon Gold potatoes, peeled and cut into 1-inch cubes
2 tablespoons tomato paste
1 (one) 8-ounce can tomato sauce
½ cup shoyu (or low-sodium soy sauce)
½ cup Worcestershire sauce
4 cups low-sodium beef stock, divided
Categories
soup
Cuisine
Hawaiian
Steps
Place ¼ cup of the flour in a medium bowl. Using paper towels, pat the stew meat as dry as possible, then season generously with the salt and ground black pepper. Dredge the seasoned stew meat in the flour, coating the meat well but shaking off any excess flour. Set aside.
Add the olive oil to a large heavy-bottomed pot over medium-high heat (I use a 5-quart Dutch oven). Once the oil and hot and shimmering, add in the beef, shaking off any excess flour before adding it into the pot. Brown 2-3 minutes per side, working in batches as necessary to avoid overcrowding the pot.
Once the beef is browned, add the remaining ingredients into the pot: celery, carrots, onions, potatoes, tomato paste, tomato sauce, shoyu, Worcestershire, and 3 ½ cups of the beef stock. Stir to combine.
Increase the heat to high to bring the mixture to a boil. Reduce to low to maintain a gentle simmer. Cover and simmer for 2-3 hours, stirring occasionally, until the beef is fall-apart tender. Add the remaining ½ cup beef stock and ¼ cup all-purpose flour to a bowl or jar, whisking or shaking vigorously to combine until a slurry forms. While stirring, gradually pour the slurry into the beef stew. The stew should thicken almost immediately. Simmer 1-2 minutes longer to cook off the flour.
island-style, over a bed of Calrose rice. Enjoy!
Nutitrion
Calories: 445 calories
Carbohydrates: 40.2 g
Protein: 37.8 g
Fat: 15.2 g
Saturated Fat: 3.3 g
Trans Fat: 0 g
Cholesterol: 89.4 mg
Sodium: 1888.3 mg
Sugar: 9.9 g
Reviews
Kate Chadwick on 2023-12-30 (5 stars): I just made this, and it is fantastic! I am so happy. It did take longer to cook. Then the recipe said, and fortunately, I waited to add the vegetables so they didn’t turn to mush. It was totally worth the wait! Thank you for a wonderful recipe!
Aubrey on 2024-04-28 (5 stars): Thank you so much for the recipe. I used my instant pot since I’m short on time. I sautéed the onions before adding the browned beef back into the instant pot. I put all the liquids (plus tomato sauce & paste) and pressure cook on high for 25 minutes. Then added the veggies and pressure cook for another 15 minutes. It turned out delicious!
Teresa S Higa on 2024-07-07 (5 stars): Aloha! I made this in my instant pot and wow! So ono and yhe best comfort food. This is definitely going into our favorite recipes. Mahalo!!
Betsey on 2025-05-24 (5 stars): If you are looking for a delicious, tangy, Hawaiian style beef stew, look no further! This is SO ono! I made mine in the instant pot and the meat and vegetables were so tender. Served over hapa rice and the whole family was happy.
Annette on 2025-10-29 (5 stars): This recipe is an absolute keeper! My manager, who’s a Hawaiian native, has made this for our office twice now because everyone raves about it. The flavors are rich, savory, and perfectly balanced. This is true comfort food that feeds the soul. Thanks for sharing!
Shery on 2026-03-10 (5 stars): So yummy, all my family and co workers loved it. Definitely a keeper!
Steve on 2026-05-20 (5 stars): Great recipe! I've been trying to get a good local-style beef stew, but quickly realized many are family secrets. Mahalo!
CJosefD on 2026-07-17 (5 stars): This is an easy and very tasty meal! Even without the pineapple (I hadn't seen it in the picture before..) everyone loved it and I'll be making it again this weekend.
