Adding the Flavor: Tomatoes and Cooking

Open a can of crushed tomatoes and pour the entire contents, juices included, over the cabbage and beef in the slow cooker. Ensure the tomatoes are spread out to lightly cover the surface. Cover the slow cooker with its lid and set it to cook on LOW for 7 to 8 hours, or on HIGH for 4 to 5 hours, until the beef is tender and the cabbage is soft and silky.

The Finishing Touches: Mixing and Serving

Once the cooking time is complete, stir everything together well so that the beef, cabbage, onions, and tomatoes are evenly combined and coated in the juices. Taste the stew and add a pinch more salt if needed. Ladle the stew into bowls and serve hot, ensuring each serving includes plenty of beef, cabbage, and the rich tomato broth.

Tips for a Depression-Era Inspired Meal

To maintain the spirit of a 5-ingredient, Depression-era style meal, focus on substitutions rather than add-ons. If you don’t have stew meat, any tougher cut of beef, such as chuck roast cut into chunks, will work; the long, slow cooking process will tenderize it beautifully. While green cabbage is traditional and budget-friendly, savoy cabbage offers a softer, sweeter alternative. For a leaner option, consider using chunks of pork shoulder instead of beef, following the same cooking method.