Matt Preston recreates beef a la mode family recipe in slow cooker

It’s been in his family for generations — and now food guru Matt Preston has recreated this beef a la mode dish using a slow cooker.

Julia Tanevski

2 min read

June 21, 2023 - 6:00AM

Matt Preston shares his family’s recipe for beef a la mode.

Food

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Do you have a family recipe that has been passed down many generations? For some it might be a classic steak pie, or even a sponge cake, but for Matt Preston, it’s beef a la mode.

Hearty and comforting, it’s a dish that has been a staple in Matt’s family for more than 200 years.

Yep, it began with his ancestors alllll the way back in 1765. Now, he’s paying homage to the classic open fire-cooked stew of the 18th Century, the modern way; with the help of a slow cooker.

Beef a la mode: let’s wind it back 200-odd years

First created in the 1700s, beef a la mode actually originated in France.

‘Boeuf à la mode’, as the French called it, is essentially braised beef cooked with stock, wine, and veggies like carrots and onions.

You can imagine how warming and comforting it would’ve been in their cold winters.

It then soon gained popularity in England, where the name ‘beef a la mode’ was coined to the stew.

Matt Preston’s beef a la mode in a slow cooker

Way back when electricity wasn’t a thing, cooking looked MUCH different to our modern day methods. Matt’s family, for one, cooked their beef a la mode on a campfire.

Matt Preston's beef a la mode.

But now that we have super handy and convenient appliances that do all the hard work on our behalf (thank you, technology), he thought: why not give my family’s beef a la mode the slow cooker treatment? And, it worked a total treat.

WATCH NOW:

FULL RECIPE:

MATT PRESTON’S BEEF A LA MODE

No slow cooker? Make it on your stove top

Matt originally recreated his family’s beef a la mode on the stove top with this recipe. So, if you don’t own a slow cooker, don’t worry, you can still enjoy the taste of the 18th Century beef stew.

If you do opt to try this super easy slow cooker variation, simply swap out the 3½ hour stovetop cooking time to 4 hours in the slow cooker.

8 best slow cookers

If we were to choose one staple kitchen appliance for the cooler months, it’d be a slow cooker.

From cakes, to casseroles, to ribs and roasts, we think they’re the ultimate ‘do-it-all’ addition to anyone’s benchtop.

So, if you’re on the lookout for the perfect slow cooker before the mercury drops, we’ve rounded up the best options for you and all of your slow-cooked needs.