A slow cooker can make dinner preparation feel a little easier. This recipe from the clinic archive pairs beef cheeks with mushrooms, carrots and herbs. Get the vegetables ready before you start, then leave time for the meat to become tender.
Ingredients
- 800 g beef cheeks
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 200 g portobello mushrooms, sliced
- 3 carrots, chopped
- 2 celery stalks, chopped
- 2 brown onions, chopped
- 2 garlic cloves, crushed
- 3 bay leaves
- 2 teaspoons each fresh thyme and rosemary leaves
- 2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
- 1 tablespoon tomato paste
- 2 cups beef stock
- 1 tablespoon arrowroot or cornflour, optional
Method
- Follow your slow cooker’s instructions for preparation and filling. Heat the oil in a frying pan and brown the beef for about 2 minutes on each side.
- Transfer the beef to the slow cooker. Add the vegetables, herbs, cinnamon, tomato paste and stock. Stir gently.
- Cook on high for 4–6 hours or low for about 8 hours, until the beef is cooked through and tender. Timing varies with the appliance and size of the pieces.
- For a thicker sauce, mix the arrowroot or cornflour with a little cold water. Stir it into the sauce for the final 20 minutes.
- Remove the bay leaves. Serve with steamed beans or zucchini and salad leaves.
Saving some for later
Cool leftovers in small portions, then refrigerate at 5°C or below. Better Health Channel — Food safety and storage.
For another pot to share, try our chicken and vegetable stew, or choose lentil bolognese for a meat-free meal. If you are considering food changes for a child’s skin, read children’s eczema and food and our eczema guide.
The clinic’s initial naturopathy consultation includes dietary and lifestyle review. Bring your questions and any existing care plan. Melbourne Wellness — Services.
Discuss suitability at a consultation.
Image credit: Irena Macri.
Sources
Read 15 October 2026. Clinical sources support the adjacent general information; clinic links verify the advertised appointment menu.
- Better Health Channel — Food safety and storage — Victorian public-health guidance; accessed 2026-10-15.
- Melbourne Wellness — Services — current clinic facts; accessed 2026-10-15.
