Recipes

Gestational Diabetes Beef Casserole

Beef Casserole

Servings: 6 people
Carbohydrate Serves: 2-3 per person
(1 carbohydrate serve = 15 grams of total carbohydrate)

This juicy gestational diabetes Beef Casserole goes out especially to our readers in the colder parts of the world right now. This recipe does take around 2 hours to cook, but it’s even better the next day so you might want to make it on the the weekend for the week ahead. Alternatively, prepare the ingredients the night before and get cooking either the next morning or after you come in the door that evening. I love to make a big batch of casserole and freeze some for those nights I really don’t want to cook. Serve it with some new potatoes or rice and a huge serving of something green. Enjoy! (Main carbohydrate ingredients are listed in bold.)

Ingredients

  • 1 tablespoon vegetable oil
  • 1kg/ 2 pounds chuck or round steak or gravy beef or bolar blade, chopped into bite-sized chunks
  • 2 onions, finely chopped
  • 2 celery stalks, finely chopped
  • 3 garlic cloves, crushed or finely chopped
  • 2 large carrots, cut into 2cm cubes
  • 150g/ 5 ounces mushrooms, roughly chopped
  • 2 tablespoons plain flour
  • 1 tablespoon/ 24g/ ~1 ounce tomato paste
  • 1 cup/ 250ml/ 8 fluid ounces dry red wine
  • 2 tablespoons Worcestershire sauce
  • 2 cups/ 500ml/ 16 fluid ounces salt-reduced beef stock
  • 1 x 400g/ 13 ounce can chopped tomatoes
  • 2 tablespoons chopped fresh or dry oregano leaves
  • 1 bay leaf
  • Parsley to serve
  • Green vegetables to serve
  • ~1 kg/ 2 pounds baby potatoes, steamed or boiled

Please note, this recipe takes around 2 hours to cook.

Heat oil in a large, heavy-based saucepan over high heat. Fry the beef in 2 or 3 batches to avoid crowding the pan. Cook, stirring occasionally, for about 5-8 minutes, until browned on all sides. Remove meat from pan and set aside.

Reduce heat to medium. Add onion, celery, garlic, carrot and mushrooms to pan. Cook, stirring occasionally, for about 6 or so minutes, until vegetables soften.

Add flour to pan and stir well over medium heat for a minute.

Stir in tomato paste and cook for another minute. Stir in red wine, Worcestershire sauce, stock, chopped tomato, oregano and bay leaf.

Return beef and any juices to pan. Cover pan and bring to the boil. Reduce heat to a gentle simmer and cook covered for about 1 hour and 30 minutes, occasionally stirring.

Remove lid and slightly increase heat to maintain simmer. Continue simmering for another 30-40 minutes to thicken sauce. Add some water or extra stock if the sauce reduces too much. If you use a tough cut of meat, the cooking time may need to be increased. You’ll know when your meat is done when it flakes away with a fork. Turn off heat and remove the bay leaf. Season with pepper.

Spoon casserole into bowls, sprinkle with chopped parsley and serve with green vegetables and some boiled potatoes.

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  • Becky says:

    Hi!
    Thank you so much for these recipes, I’ve recently been diagnosed with GD and was finding it really hard to find interesting recipes that weren’t just plain meat with boiled potatoes and veg! We tried this one out last night and it was delicious. I have now planned an entire weeks meals around your website! It is exactly what I have been looking for, thank you!
    Becky

  • renee vandersteen says:

    I am writing on bhalf of my daughter . she has GD and thought she vwas doing well. her breaky and lunch nmbers r fine but she`s a hairstylist and works late wed and thurs and eats dinner when she gets hhhhome at 9-9.30, those r the high numbers. she`s frustrated. they say if those numbers don’t go down she may need insulin. she`s 6 wks away from giving birth. would u plz write her with with suggrstions r meal prep ideas TY in advance

    SINCERELY LUCY BLAHEY RENEE`S MOM

    • Lisa says:

      Hi Renee. Thanks for your message. To try and keep her blood glucose levels steady, your daughter should be aiming to eat her main meals approx. 4 hours after each other and should try having a small low-carb snack 2 hours after each main meal. She’s going to find it difficult to make any change to that evening BGL if she’s not eating regularly. She should speak to her boss and get at least 15 mins to eat something to keep her going. Check out our snack ideas here https://gestationaldiabetesrecipes.com/category/recipes/snacks/ I’d recommend a smoothie (with no added sugar like honey), or the hummus and veggies, or peanut butter and crackers, or a muesli bar that fits within the recommendations by her dietitian. Otherwise, she could try make extra dinner the night before and take some to work. If she is not on insulin yet, yes, she is going to have to try harder as the course of action is that she should be managing her GDM with food and exercise. And yes, I imagine that if she can’t make those changes she will have to take insulin for the last weeks. Have you both seen our article on myth-busting insulin? It could be of use. https://gestationaldiabetesrecipes.com/2012/10/myth-busting-insulin-for-gestational-diabetes/ I hope that’s helpful. Please let me know how you go, Lisa x

  • Gail says:

    This really is a great website with amazing collection of recipes. I had he in 2014 and still use your recipes to this day. I have even passed your recipes onto a number of no diabetic people who absolutely love them. Xxx

  • Gail says:

    Hi. I hope you’re still around. Just wanted to let you know this is my go to Beef Casserole recipe. I do not deviate from this one at all. Every winter I am back to your website and this meal is on high rotation. I had GD in 2014 and to this day I still come back. The whole family adore this meal. I am making it again tomorrow night. Thanks for sharing this great recipe and being here for me.

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I’m Lisa Taylor, the mum behind GDRecipes. I created this site after having GDM myself & because I love food. I’d like to inspire, motivate & support you to cook & eat well during your pregnancy with GDM & beyond. Come read my story. My kitchen is your kitchen. ... Read more

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