North-Slope Spiced Reindeer Stew

By Lauren Mitchell, Test Kitchen Director · Reviewed by AislePrompt Editorial · Published 2026-05-02 · Updated 2026-05-02

A hearty stew featuring tender reindeer meat simmered with warming northern spices and root vegetables, perfect for cold weather nourishment. This Scandinavian-inspired beef recipe, ready in about 150 minutes, pairs Reindeer stew meat, Vegetable oil, Yellow onion for a weeknight-friendly dinner that comes together with one pan and minimal cleanup. Each serving lands at about 350 calories and feeds 6, so it slots cleanly into a weekly meal plan and pairs well with a quick salad or grain on the side. Tap "Plan a meal with the AI" below to drop this recipe into your week and send the ingredients straight to Instacart. Nutrition values are approximate, calculated from USDA FoodData Central (fdc.nal.usda.gov) — verify against ingredient labels for any health-driven dietary plan.

Ingredients

• 2 lbs, cut into 1-inch cubes Reindeer stew meat
• 2 tbsp Vegetable oil
• 1 large, diced Yellow onion
• 3 medium, sliced into 1/2-inch rounds Carrots
• 2, chopped Celery stalks
• 4, minced Garlic cloves
• 1 tsp Ground allspice
• 1 tsp (optional) Ground juniper berries
• 2 Bay leaves
• 4 cups Beef broth
• 1 cup Red wine
• 1 1/2 tsp Salt
• 1 tsp Black pepper
• 2 tbsp chopped, for garnish Fresh parsley

Instructions

1. Step 1: Heat 2 tbsp vegetable oil in a large heavy pot over medium-high heat. Add 2 lbs cubed reindeer meat and brown on all sides, about 6-8 minutes, working in batches if necessary. Remove and set aside.
2. Step 2: In the same pot, add 1 large diced yellow onion, 3 sliced carrots, and 2 chopped celery stalks. Sauté for 5 minutes until softened and fragrant.
3. Step 3: Add 4 minced garlic cloves, 1 tsp ground allspice, 1 tsp ground juniper berries if using, and 2 bay leaves. Stir for 1 minute until spices are aromatic.
4. Step 4: Return the browned reindeer to the pot, pour in 4 cups beef broth and 1 cup red wine. Season with 1 1/2 tsp salt and 1 tsp black pepper. Bring to a boil, then reduce heat to low, cover, and simmer gently for 2 hours until meat is tender.
5. Step 5: Remove bay leaves, adjust seasoning, and garnish with 2 tbsp chopped fresh parsley before serving.