Hungarian Beef Goulash Stew

Name: Hungarian Beef Goulash Stew
Ingredients: ½ cup olive oil; 3 medium onions (peeled and finely sliced); 2 cloves garlic (peeled and minced); 8 cups chuck steak (rinsed; trimmed and cut into cubes); salt (to taste); 1 tablespoon Caraway seed; 2 tablespoons sweet, Hungarian paprika; 2 tablespoons tomato puree; 1 cup dry Red wine; 1 ¾ cups Beef stock; 3 carrots (peeled and sliced); 3 red Bell pepper (rinsed; seeded and sliced); 2 medium tomatoes peeled; trimmed and chopped (optional); fresh thyme (for garnish)