Cooking and Recipes to Make
on Your Your Wood Stove
When the power takes a sudden vacation or your kitchen stove decides to go on strike, there’s no need to resort to a dinner of cold beans and uncooked noodles. No, dear reader, your trusty wood stove is ready to step up to the plate—literally. So, let’s embark on a culinary adventure, transforming your wood stove into a rustic kitchen wonder!
A Stove with Culinary Ambitions
First things first, let’s understand that your wood stove has hidden cooking capabilities just waiting to be discovered. With the flat top, it transforms into an impromptu cooking surface perfect for simmering, sautéing, and sizzling your way to a delicious meal.
The Art of Simmering and Stewing
One of the wood stove’s culinary superpowers lies in its ability to maintain a steady simmer, great for dishes that need time to meld flavors and tenderize ingredients. Think hearty stews, rich sauces, and soul-warming soups.
To begin on this simmering and stewing journey, you’ll need a good, heavy pot—cast iron is a stellar choice. Place it on the stove top and let it slowly heat up. Now, the world (or at least the contents of your pantry) is your oyster. Dive into a classic beef stew, bubbling away with tender chunks of meat, robust veggies, and a lovely broth.
Here is a quick stew recipe you can follow…
Ingredients:
1.5 lbs beef stew meat, cut into 1-inch cubes
3 tablespoons all-purpose flour
2 tablespoons cooking oil
1 large onion, chopped
3 cloves garlic, minced
4 cups beef broth
3 carrots, peeled and sliced
3 potatoes, peeled and cubed
2 celery stalks, sliced
1 cup frozen peas
1 can (14.5 oz) diced tomatoes
2 bay leaves
1 teaspoon dried thyme
1 teaspoon dried rosemary
Salt and pepper to taste
Fresh parsley, chopped (for garnish)
- Prepare the Fire: Ensure your wood stove is burning well and providing a steady heat. You’re aiming for a moderate heat level — not too blazing hot but not too low either.
- Prep Your Ingredients: Have all your ingredients chopped, sliced, and ready to go. This will make the cooking process smoother.
- Brown the Beef: In a large, heavy-duty pot (cast iron is ideal), heat the oil over the stove. Toss the beef pieces in flour, shaking off the excess. Add the beef to the pot in batches, browning on all sides. Remove the beef and set aside.
- Sauté the Veggies: In the same pot, add the chopped onions and sauté until they start to become translucent. Add the minced garlic and stir for another minute until fragrant.
- Deglaze the Pot: Pour in a splash of the beef broth, using a wooden spoon to scrape up any browned bits from the bottom of the pot. This adds an extra layer of flavor to your stew.
- Combine Ingredients: Add the browned beef back into the pot along with the remaining beef broth, carrots, potatoes, celery, bay leaves, thyme, salt, and pepper. Stir well to combine.
- Simmer Away: Cover the pot with a lid and place it on the wood stove. You’re looking to maintain a steady, low simmer. If your wood stove is providing too much heat, you can use a stove-top trivet to raise the pot slightly and reduce the temperature.
- Patience is Key: Allow the stew to simmer for 2-3 hours, stirring occasionally. The long, slow cooking process will help tenderize the beef and meld the flavors together.
- Add the Final Touches: About 10 minutes before serving, add the frozen peas to the pot. Check the seasoning and add more salt and pepper if needed.
- Garnish and Serve: Once the peas are cooked, and the stew is rich and flavorful, ladle it into bowls. Garnish with a sprinkle of fresh parsley if you have some on hand.
Or perhaps simply a pot of chili, with your famous symphony of spices and heartiness!
Grilling and Sautéing: A Smoky Affair
If the sizzle of onions hitting a hot pan is music to your ears, then your wood stove is ready to oblige. With a griddle or a flat skillet, your stove is ready to sear, sizzle, and sauté.
Imagine a breakfast skillet, with eggs, bacon, sausage, maybe some peppers and diced potatoes!
Or perhaps a stir fry, with fresh veggies and a protein of choice! Again, whatever you have available (and may HAVE to use if cooking on your wood stove is your only option).
Baking Bliss
And let’s not forget about baking. While it might not replace your oven, your wood stove can still play a role in creating baked goods. With a Dutch oven, you can easily bake bread, creating rustic loaves with a touch of smoky flavor. Or perhaps a cobbler or crumble, with fruits bubbling away and a crispy top, all ready to be enjoyed with a scoop of ice cream!
Here’s how to make a delightful Apple Crumble…
Ingredients:
4 cups sliced apples
¾ cup brown sugar
½ cup flour
½ cup rolled oats
¾ teaspoon cinnamon
¾ teaspoon nutmeg
1/3 cup butter, softened
Instructions:
Prepare the Filling: Place the sliced apples in a greased cast-iron skillet or Dutch oven.
Mix the Topping: In a separate bowl, mix together the brown sugar, flour, oats, cinnamon, and nutmeg. Cut in the butter until the mixture resembles coarse crumbs.
Add the Crumble Topping: Sprinkle the crumble mixture evenly over the apples.
Bake on the Wood Stove: Cover the skillet or Dutch oven with a lid or foil. Place it on the wood stove, maintaining a moderate heat. Bake for 30-40 minutes or until the apples are tender and the topping is golden brown.
Serve and Enjoy: Let it cool slightly before serving. Enjoy the warm, comforting flavors of your wood stove apple crumble!
Heat Management
Cooking on a wood stove is an art, a dance of managing heat and timing. You may find yourself moving pots and pans around, finding the sweet spots of heat, and embracing the ebbs and flows of the fire’s intensity. It’s a return to cooking’s roots, a reminder of the simplicity and joy found in preparing food. Kinda fun if you look at it that way…
Taste the Adventure
So, when the lights flicker out or you simply crave a culinary adventure, give your wood stove a try! With a bit of creativity and a dash of patience, it transforms into a rustic kitchen, ready to bring warmth, flavor, and a sense of accomplishment to your meals.
From sizzling breakfasts to simmering stews, and even a venture into baking and desserts, your wood stove is more than just a source of warmth. It can be a culinary companion, ready to save the day when the lights go out.
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So, stoke the fire, gather your ingredients, and let the wood stove cooking adventure begin! Till next time!
Hope this helped!
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