Obviously this can be a deer, pronghorn, bison, beef, sheep, etc. stew. You could even use pork if you wanted to. Also note that there are a lot of optional ingredients, which I like a lot, but you can skip if you'd like.
1ouncedried porcini, crushed(or some other dried mushroom)
5Hatch, Anaheim poblano peppers, roasted, seeded, and chopped
1quartelk, venison or beef stock
1pintBelgian beer(anything malty)
2large carrots, peeled and cut unto chunks
1tablespoonfresh sage,minced
OPTIONAL INGREDIENTS
1parsnip,peeled and cut into chunks
1cupcorn kernels
1cupcooked barley or wheat berries
115-ouncecan, Great Northern beans
1cupchopped cooked greens, like spinach, nettles, or chard
Instructions
Heat 2 tablespoons of the butter or oil in a large soup pot with a lid over medium-high heat. Salt the stew meat well, then dust in the flour. Brown the meat in batches, making sure they do not touch each other. Remove the meat to a bowl as it browns and reserve.
When all the meat is nicely browned, add the remaining oil and the chopped onion. Stir well, and brown this well, too.
While this is happening, put 2 of the roasted chiles into a blender with the stock and puree.
Add the garlic and stir to combine. Return the meat to the pot, along with any juices that have collected in the bowl. Pour the contents of the blender into the pot. Crush the dried mushrooms in your hands and add to the pot. Fill the blender bowl again with water and pour that into the pot. Finally, add the beer. Bring all this to a simmer, add salt to taste, partially cover the pot, and let this cook gently.
If you are using dried beans, wheat berries or barley and greens, now is the time to cook them. If you are using canned beans, wait.
After about 2 hours, add the carrots and the sage, as well as the parsnip, if using. When they are tender, about 40 minutes or so later, add the remaining green chiles, and any of the other optional ingredients you happen to be using. Taste for salt and black pepper and serve.
Notes
If you can't find dried mushrooms, use 1/2 pound fresh ones, chop them and add with the onions.
Keys to Success
I like to use big chunks of neck or front shoulder meat here, sliced across the grain. They look gnarly at first, but after several hours in the pot, that connective tissue melts and you get a really nice stew. Shank chunks work well for this, too.
Take your time with the browning step for both the meat and onions. This is the foundation of the stew's flavor.
This is a place for canned green chiles. I like to roast chiles, but if you don't, canned will do nicely here.
If you have the starchy optional things, like the wheat berries and beans, etc. you won't need anything else. If you skip them, serve this with crusty bread.