Pat the beef stew meat dry with a paper towel and season evenly with sea salt and black pepper.
Heat the olive oil in a heavy-bottomed pot or Dutch oven over medium-high heat.
Add the beef to the pot and sear until browned on all sides, then remove the beef and set aside.
In the same pot, add the diced onion and sliced carrots, sautéing for 3-4 minutes until the onion is translucent.
Add the minced garlic and tomato paste, stirring constantly for 1 minute until fragrant.
Pour in the red wine to deglaze the pot, scraping up any browned bits from the bottom with a wooden spoon.
Return the beef to the pot and add the beef broth and fresh thyme sprig.
Bring the liquid to a gentle simmer, then cover and reduce heat to low, cooking for 60-90 minutes until the beef is tender.
While the beef simmers, steam the cauliflower florets until very soft, then mash or blend them until smooth.
Remove the thyme sprig from the beef and serve the braised meat and vegetables over the cauliflower mash.