Black Pepper Beef Stew

Consider this recipe a love letter to the humble black peppercorn—one of those often-used but underappreciated spices. Chunks of beef are marinated in yogurt, ginger, garlic, and freshly ground pepper, then seared all over, building flavor for the stew from the ground up. Then they’re simmered until tender while the liquid cooks down to a thick, rich sauce. This recipe is inspired by my Indian roots and uses garam masala powder, which harnesses the power of spices like cumin, bay leaves, cloves, and cinnamon to make a deeply spice-forward and complex stew. Add both snow peas and sugar snaps toward the end for a bright green finish.