Hawaiian Beef Stew is called "local beef stew" in Hawaii. It's hearty and comforting, full of tender beef, carrots, and potatoes. Best served over a big bowl of rice!
Local style beef stew, ready to eat.
What Is Hawaiian Beef Stew?
Ok, first things first! Most people call this dish Hawaiian Beef Stew. But in Hawaii, we call it local style beef stew. Or just beef stew. This is because beef stew is not actually a Hawaiian dish, it is a local dish (more on Hawaiian food versus local Hawaii food here).
But we don't judge. However you call it, just make sure you eat it over rice (most important) and enjoy.
We grew up eating beef stew everywhere from school cafeteria to local restaurants. Of course, the best was always served by someone's uncle or grandma. We also made a pretty mean version at home ^_^
Local style beef stew, after two hours of cooking.
Hawaiian Beef Stew Versus Regular Beef Stew
What's the difference between our local Hawaii beef stew and regular mainland beef stew? Here are a few:
- Tomatoes - Hawaii version has lots of tomatoes (in the form of tomato paste and canned whole peeled tomatoes). Mainland beef stew has no tomato (or very little, in the form of tomato paste).
- Sweetness - Hawaii version is slightly sweeter (because of the tomatoes). Local tastes tend to veer a little sweet so this is just a better fit for our tastebuds.
- Color - Hawaii version is redder in color. Mainland version is darker, more brown in color (this comes from the red wine and/or beef stock).
- Seasoning - Hawaii version uses bay leaf. Mainland version often calls for many other ingredients like bay leaves, thyme, paprika, and even worcestershire sauce.
- Rice! - In Hawaii we always eat beef stew over rice. Mainland version is usually eaten with bread. I am forever team rice ^_^
Canned whole peeled tomatoes and tomato paste.
Why Tomato Paste and Whole Tomatoes
This recipe calls for both tomato paste and a can of whole peeled tomatoes. Why both? They both add tomato flavors but in different ways.
You add in the tomato paste first, and saute it (with the onions), till the tomato paste turns a deep, brick red color. This gives the final dish a deeper, almost caramelized tomato flavor. It adds depth and complexity (with very little effort).
The recipe calls for a big 28 ounce can of whole peeled tomatoes. The tomatoes (plus the juices in the can) make up the "saucy" part of this stew.
Don't worry about cutting up the tomatoes, they will naturally break down by themselves over the two hour simmering period.
Note: For tomato paste, I use Muir Glen. For canned whole peeled tomatoes I like: Bianco DiNapoli, San Marzanos, and the 365 brand (more affordable).
Step 4 of the recipe (adding the whole peeled tomatoes and beef back in).
Where To Eat Hawaiian Beef Stew
You can get beef stew everywhere in Hawaii! Each place has their own style (more tomato/less tomato, some places make it a touch sweeter, other places even add shoyu!), so there's no such thing as a "best" beef stew spot.
Here are a few we like:
- Helena's Hawaiian Food - I've mentioned Helena's a million times on this blog. If there's one restaurant you need to visit in Honolulu, it is Helena's for sure! The make all the classic Hawaiian dishes (like lau lau, poi, lomi lomi salmon, kalua pig, and haupia), and they do it beautiful! Plus you can also get a few local dishes like mac salad and beef stew here. Helena's is the best. Full Helena's post here.
- Yama's Fish Market - Super good takeout spot. I love the housemade lau lau, the many types of ahi poke, dreamy haupia desserts, and...the beef stew! Full Yama's post here.
- Nico's Pier 38 - Beef stew comes plate lunch style with rice (or chow mein) and mac salad. Make sure to also try the furikake seared ahi and the fresh poke.
All the fresh ingredients for beef stew.
How To Make Hawaiian Beef Stew
Ok let's start cooking! Below are the ingredients and instructions. At the very bottom of this post is the complete (and printable) recipe card.
Ingredients
Here's what you'll need:
- Beef stew meat - aka boneless chuck roast
- Onion
- Garlic
- Tomato paste
- 28-ounce can whole peeled tomatoes
- dried bay leaves
- Celery
- Carrots
- Potatoes
Keep in mind that the specific amounts are somewhat flexible. You can use more celery if you want, or fewer potatoes. Double the garlic if you'd like (I do)!
Make sure to eat local beef stew with rice! It is most important.
Instructions
Let's get cooking!
Brown the beef.
Heat oil in a pot. Pat dry, lightly salt, and then brown the beef (on all sides) over medium-high heat. Once browned, remove beef to a plate.
Saute onions and garlic.
Add more oil to the pot if needed. Add the onions and garlic, and saute for 3-5 minutes, till golden brown.
Brown the tomato paste.
Add the tomato paste. Saute another 2 minutes, till the tomato paste turns a darker, brick red color.
Add tomatoes and bay leaves and cook!.
Add in the can of whole peeled tomatoes, bay leaves, and ½ cup of water. Then add the beef back in. Bring to a boil. Then turn heat to low. Put on a lid, and let simmer for an hour.
Add vegetables.
Remove lid, turn heat back to medium-high. Add in the celery, carrots, and potatoes. Add more water if needed (you want to make sure all the meat and vegetables are covered). Bring to a boil. Then turn the heat back to low. Put the lid on and simmer for another hour. Season with salt and lots of black pepper.
Ready to eat!
Serve over a big bowl of hot rice. It’s onolicious!
FAQ
Yes! I originally created this recipe when it was just me, so I didn't want to make too much beef stew at a time.
Now I double, and occasionally triple, the recipe because there are a lot of people in the house and everyone loves beef stew.
100% yes! Instant Pot instructions are in the recipe card below.
We always eat it with a big bowl of rice! That makes it a complete meal.
For weeknight dinners, I don't usually make any other side dishes or vegetables because there are plenty of vegetables in the beef stew ^_^
Hawaiian Beef Stew
Ingredients
- 1 pound beef stew meat boneless chuck roast, cut into 1-inch cubes
- 1 medium onion chopped
- 3-5 garlic cloves smashed
- 1 tablespoon tomato paste
- 1 28- ounce can whole peeled tomatoes
- 2 dried bay leaves
- 3 celery stalks chopped
- 2 medium carrots chopped
- 2 medium potatoes chopped
Instructions
Stovetop / Regular Pot Instructions:
- Heat a tablespoon of oil in a pot. Pat dry, lightly salt, and then brown the beef (on all sides) over medium-high heat. Once browned, remove beef to a plate.
- Add more oil to the pot if needed. Add the onions and garlic, and saute for 3-5 minutes, till golden brown.
- Add the tomato paste. Saute another 2 minutes, till the tomato paste turns a darker, brick red color.
- Add the whole peeled tomatoes, bay leaves, and ½ cup of water. Add the beef back in. Bring to a boil. Then turn heat to low. Put on a lid, and let simmer for an hour.
- Remove lid, turn heat back to medium-high. Add the celery, carrots, and potatoes. Add more water if needed (you want to be sure all the meat and vegetables are covered). Bring to a boil. Then turn the heat back to low. Put the lid on and simmer for another hour. Season with salt and lots of black pepper.
- Serve over a big bowl of hot rice ^_^
Instant Pot Instructions:
- Pat the beef dry and lightly salt.
- Press the “saute” button on the Instant Pot. Add a tablespoon of oil, followed by a single layer of beef. (You may need to do two batches depending on the size of the Instant Pot.) Brown the beef on all sides. This takes about 5 minutes. Remove the beef to a plate and set aside.
- Add more oil to the Instant Pot and then add the onion and garlic. Saute until fragrant and golden.
- Then add the tomato paste. Saute for another 2 minutes, till the tomato paste turns a darker, almost a brick red color.
- Then add ½ cup of water. Use a wooden spoon to deglaze / scrape up any browned bits stuck to the bottom of the pot.Note: This step is important. If you have browned bits left on the bottom of the pot, the Instant Pot will display a “burn” message and stop cooking.
- Press the “cancel” button to stop the sautéing.
- Add the whole peeled tomatoes and bay leaves to the pot. Add the beef back into the pot. Then add the carrots, celery, and potatoes. Give it a stir so that everything is evenly mixed. Put the lid back on.
- Cook on “high pressure” for 35 minutes. Then do a "natural pressure release" for 15 minutes.
- Remove the lid, and press the “cancel” button. Then press the “saute” button. Leave the lid off and let the sauce bubble and reduce until it becomes thicker and more gravy-like. Stir frequently. Season with salt and lots of black pepper.
- Pour the beef stew out into a bowl, and serve over a big bowl of hot rice. Enjoy!
Reminded me of being home with my mother, Thank you!
For the Instant Pot version, when do the celery, carrots, and potatoes go in? Is it at step 9?
Aloha Joel! My apologies, recipe updated! I add it in Step 7 (same time I add back the browned beef). This gives you really soft and tender celery, carrots, and potatoes.
If you prefer celery, carrots, and potatoes not too soft, then cook the beef (without celery, carrots, and potatoes) for 20 minutes high pressure, followed by natural release 15 minutes. Then open the IP back up and add the celery, carrots, and potatoes and cook for another 15 minutes high pressure followed by natural release 15 minutes.
Thank you ^_^
Kathy
Thanks so much for the Instapot recipe. You’re the best! Love your newsletters. Aloha!
Thank you so much, Donna!! ^_^
- Kathy
Can you use this same recipe and make it in the Instapot? Want to make it this week but work doesn’t leave me enough time to finish in time for dinner. Thanks. Enjoy your newsletters from the Big Island. 🥰
Aloha Donna! Yes you can definitely make it in the Instant Pot. Let me work on the recipe conversion this week, and I will post the update in Friday's newsletter. Thank you so much for reading ^_^
- Kathy
I make both with and without tomato seasoning. I like to thicken it with flour and water (roux) and use a little shoyu when making it brown gravy style.
I've used yr recipe everytime I have made beef stew n its the best. I told my Uncles here in Hawaii you have the best beef stew recipe n of course they didn't wanna admit it. Haha.
It's the best!!!!!
Thank you for sharing all yr recipes with us n I've made a few.
Thank you for the kind words, Mimi! I'm so happy you enjoyed the recipe, beef stew always hits the spot good 🙂
- Kathy
How would I make this with beef sirloin tip? My store was out of chuck.
This sounds ono and not how I was taught but I have a huge family..if I use about 8 pounds of Chuck do I just simply multiply the ingredients or what is your recommendation
It is almost the same recipe we grew up with. Since I have tweeked it with chilli pepper flakes, small can tomato paste, spicy tomato sauce 6oz can, can of spicy tomato & jalapenos. (Hispanic isle). Adding cabbage last to cook in, or as a fresh garnish for crunch. Normally serve with traditional native fry bread. Always a hit. Definitely need to try with rice and a splash of chilli pepper water.
My parents born and raised in Maui, moved to the mainland in 1958. Mom made this stew every week for dinner. Yes, served over white rice. Sometimes with her homemade Kimchee on the side. Delicious!
Hi Annette! Love it! This would be super delicious with a side of kimchee 🙂
- Kathy
We often stay in the guest house of Hawaiian friends in Kailua Oahu. Grandpa has passed away, but he always thickened his beef stew with poi. Super Ono. Now, other recipes don’t measure up. What you tink dis?
I’ve never sautéed the tomato paste before; I just usually dump a whole can of tomato paste and water to make a broth. This has better flavor than the way I was taught. Grandma always added cubed daikon, which I use to replace/in addition to potatoes; it absorbs all the flavors and adds another texture.
I made this beef stew this week and it was really onolicious! It was even better the next day. I tripled the amount of meat because it would hardly feed 1 Hawaiian bf much less an ohana with 1 lb of beef. I added an extra 15 oz can of diced tomatoes to the 28 oz whole peeled tomatoes and an extra carrot, potato, celery stalk and onion to make up for the extra protein. Mahalo for the recipe!
Just saying
Texas local beef stew
at least at my grandma's was made with tomato and was very red in color.
This recipe looks really good. Look forward to giving it a try.
Love this stew !!! I moved to Denver from Mililani last year I really miss Hawaiian food so sometimes I cook this for me it makes me miss Hawaii more lol I’ll make the stew tomorrow again and cook some rice on the stove instead rice cooker :)) Mahalo for posting this ONO recipe !!!
Aloha Lani! Thank you and so happy you enjoyed the recipe! Nothing like local beef stew to remind us of home ^_^
- Kathy
LOL. I guess I have to go back to rice. I love stew and will be trying this. Great for winter. It's -17C in Canada. But I will opt for German thick and condensed bread (Bavarian style), instead. Sorry Kathy. But others in my household will eat the rice as a consolation. (P.S. I've been going through and saving all the recipes. Will definitely try them. Tomorrow off to get some beef stew)
Aloha Leo - In Hawaii, we eat everything with rice hahah. Hope you enjoyed! ^_^
- Kathy
@Kathy, Just made it. Just finished it. And I did eat it with rice. Everything was so tender. So soft and so good. It was perfect. So that's how you stew a beef. Everything was onolicious. I also paired it with the pan fried tofu (I am a sesame oil fanatic) and I made the haupia again. Love it so much. Like Hawaiians, Filipinos eat everything at the same time. Why not?
Aloha Leo! Ooo I'm so happy you had all those dishes. It's a great combo, a super complete meal 🙂
I think I'm going to make beef stew for dinner tonight!
- Kathy
Hawaiian style Beef Stew and rice....winnah, winnah, beef stew dinnah!! Lol. Great recipe, works with hamburger also. Mahalo for posting.
I remember cooking rice in Palolo Valley during the 1950s and 60s. After washing the rice, I would add extra water up until my first knuckle.
I have never made beef stew cause I don’t like it. I made this recipe tonight because my husband loves beef stew. First of all, super simple to make. Secondly, OMG. This was DELICIOUS. I will definitely make it again! Thank you!!!
Hi Natalie!
So happy you loved the beef stew!! Your comment made my day, thank you ^_^
- Kathy
Hi Kathy: I love beef stew. I still make it a lot; maybe at least once a month or so. But I guess I make the Mainland version of it since I don't use tomatoes, or tomato sauce, or tomato sauce. My Haole GF likes my stew, but without the tomatoes. I just use kitchen bouquet and make it brown gravy style. I sometimes eat mine with Tabasco sauce on it.
Hi Alan! Ooo your version sounds really tasty! I like idea of "brown gravy style." I'm just used to all-tomato kind we grew up with. And yes to Tabasco, always. Hope you are doing well and taking care 🙂
- Kathy
@Alan, I never had it with brown gravy but this sounds killa and I going have to sample.