Classic Irish Stew Recipes

IRISH STEW

Steps:

• In a large Dutch oven combine the lamb, beef broth, onions, salt, pepper, and bay leaf. Bring to a boil; reduce heat. Cover and simmer for 45 minutes.
• Skim off the fat. Add the potatoes, carrots, thyme, and basil. Cover and simmer for 30 to 35 minutes more or until the vegetables are tender. Remove the bay leaf and discard.
• Combine the cold water and the flour. Stir into the stew. Cook and stir until thickened and bubbly. Cook and stir 1 minute more. Season to taste with salt and pepper.
• Sprinkle each serving with snipped parsley.

TRADITIONAL IRISH STEW

Steps:

• Heat olive oil in a skillet over medium heat. Add beef; cook until evenly browned, 3 to 5 minutes per side.
• Place potatoes, carrots, onion, and garlic in a slow cooker; top with browned beef.
• Pour 1/4 cup beer into the same skillet and bring to a boil while scraping the browned bits of beef off of the bottom of the skillet with a wooden spoon. Stir in tomato paste; cook until thickened, about 5 minutes. Pour beer mixture into slow cooker.
• Pour beef broth, remaining beer, garlic powder, onion powder, paprika, salt, and pepper into slow cooker.
• Cook on Low for 8 hours.

TRADITIONAL IRISH STEW

Steps:

• Add the cabbage (if using), replace the lid, and cook for another hour. Check from time to time to make sure the stock hasn't reduced too much. If it has, add a little boiling water. The meat and vegetables should always be covered in liquid. If the sauce is too runny at the end, you can always cook the stew a little longer with the lid removed.

CLASSIC IRISH STEW

Steps:

• Make the stock. Put the lamb bones in a large heavy-based saucepan with the carrot, onion, celery, herbs, peppercorns and 1 tsp salt. Pour in 3 litres/5 ¼ pints water. Bring to the boil and simmer uncovered for 2 hours.
• Strain the stock through a fine sieve to remove bones and vegetables, then return to the pan. Boil until reduced to about 1.3 litres/2 ¼ pints. (You can make the stock the day before - keep it in a covered container in the fridge, or freeze it for up to 3 months.)
• Make the stew. Cut the lamb into large chunks. Peel the potatoes (keeping both types separate) and cut into pieces of similar size to the meat. Put the two different types in separate bowls of water to keep them white. Peel the carrots and cut into slightly smaller pieces. Slice the onions into thick rings.
• Put the lamb in a large, clean saucepan. Pour in the stock and bring to the boil, skimming off all the impurities from the surface. Reduce the heat, cover and simmer gently for 10 minutes.
• Add the floury potatoes, carrots and onions. Season generously and simmer for a further 10 minutes, stirring occasionally.
• Add the waxy potatoes and thyme. Simmer until the lamb is tender (15-20 minutes). Take off the heat, cover (don't stir) and leave for 15 minutes. (You can make this up to 2 days ahead and keep in the fridge). Garnish and serve.