Irish Stew. An old fashioned step by step recipe with max flavour! (2024)

Irish Stew. An old fashioned favourite with a step by step recipe to make it even more flavourful! This is comfort food at its very best.

Irish Stew. An old fashioned step by step recipe with max flavour! (1)

Irish Stew. Old fashioned comfort food at its best.

This great fall dish is made up of simple elements that come together to make one of the most delicious beef stews I have ever made. Yes, you can make it with traditional lamb or mutton too.

Irish Stew. An old fashioned step by step recipe with max flavour! (2)

Quality ingredients like local vegetables make all the difference to a truly great stew.

I start with a great homemade beef stock which we almost always have on hand now. You can learn how to economically make beef or chicken stock in the oven here.

How to make beef stock in the oven.

Normally I would make stock on a different day than a soup or stew. We freeze it in Ziploc bags that lay flat on a cookie sheet as they freeze.

This allows the bags to be stacked in the freezer when frozen. It’s a great way to minimize the space required in the freezer.

Seasoning the stew.

If you are using store bought stock, ALWAYS choose the low sodium or no sodium added version. That’s because as the stock reduces in the stew, the salt concentration will get higher.

In the end, it’s better for you to be able to add the amount of salt you prefer for seasoning or to meet the needs of a sodium restricted diet.

Irish stew is stew in it’s simplest form, so salt and pepper is all I use in this recipe. In other stews I would add a number of other flavouring elements from fresh thyme or rosemary to a dassh of worcestershire sace.

Not here though. In this recipe you want the natural quality and flavour of the simple ingredients to shine through.

Developing flavour in Irish Stew.

The next step in making this Irish Stew is to brown the beef or lamb well before braising it to tender perfection in Irish Ale.

This step really fully develops the flavour of the beef.

Please note that you can easily substitute lamb in this recipe, if that is your preference.

Irish Stew. An old fashioned step by step recipe with max flavour! (5)

Finally, other than potatoes and seasoning, I add farm fresh, root vegetables to complete this delicious stew and sometimes leeks if they are available. The natural sweetness of pour local vegetables adds yet another layer of flavour to the pot.

Irish Stew. An old fashioned step by step recipe with max flavour! (6)

Finally, it all comes together for the final stage of cooking until the potatoes are fork tender. Then it’s just a matter of serving to those who have been smelling this wonderful stew all afternoon.

Don’t forget the Yorkshire Pudding Popovers to go with the Irish Stew as pictured or try some of our Whole Wheat Irish Soda Bread instead.

Irish Stew. An old fashioned step by step recipe with max flavour! (7)

Whole Wheat Irish Soda Bread

This is a great, slow cooked, comfort food meal and a great weekend recipe for the cold days ahead. Of course, this Irish Stew is also ideal for St Patrick’s Day! Éirinn go Brách!

Irish Stew. An old fashioned step by step recipe with max flavour! (8)

Originally published October 2009.

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Irish Stew. An old fashioned step by step recipe with max flavour! (9)

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Irish Stew. An old fashioned step by step recipe with max flavour! (11)

Yield: 16 servings

Irish Stew

Prep Time: 45 minutes

Cook Time: 4 hours

Total Time: 4 hours 45 minutes

Irish Stew. An old fashioned favourite with a step by step recipe to make it even more flavourful! This is comfort food at its very best.

Ingredients

  • Note that this is a very large recipe meant to feed a crowd,but it is easily halved for a smaller number of people. (See note below.

FOR THE BRAISED BEEF

  • 4 pounds beef roast (I use chuck/blade roast but lamb is also very good in this recipe)
  • 4 tbsp canola oil
  • 2 pints Irish Ale (Smithwick's is a good choice.)
  • 4 cloves minced garlic (optional, as this is not a traditional ingredient)
  • 2 onions, diced
  • Salt and pepper to season.

VEGETABLES

  • 2 pounds parsnip, cut in chunks
  • 2 pound turnip, cut in chucks
  • 3 large leeks, shopped in thick slice (optional)
  • 2 pounds carrots, cut in chunks
  • 3 pounds yellow potatoes, washed and unpeeled, cut in chunks
  • Salt and pepper to season

YOU WILL ALSO NEED

  • 2 litres/quarts of beef stock (use low sodium or sodium free if using store bought)
  • about 1/2 cup flour

Instructions

TO PREPARE THE BRAISED BEEF

  1. Cut the roast into large chunks about 1 ½ inches in size.
  2. Salt and pepper the raw meat to season.
  3. In a large heavy bottomed dutch oven (7 quarts/litres or more) heat the canola oil over medium high heat.
  4. Brown the beef chunks on all sides, working in small batches so as not to crowd your pan.
  5. When all the beef is browned, remove it temporarily from the pot.
  6. Add the chopped onions to the pot. (plus the garlic if you are using it)
  7. Cook for a few minutes to soften the onions.
  8. Add the browned beef back to the pot along with the Irish Ale (You can just use more beef stock as a substitute if you prefer.)
  9. Cook slowly in a 300 degree oven for about 1 ½ to 2 hours.

ADD THE VEGETABLES

  1. Add all of the vegetables to the pot.
  2. Season again, lightly, with salt.
  3. Be sure to add the potatoes last, so that they are on top. This is so you can test them easily with a fork to judge if they are done.

TO FINISH THE STEW

  1. Add the beef stockto pot. (Reserve about a cup to make a thickening slurry after)
  2. Return to the oven for about an hour or until the potatoes are fork tender.
  3. In a bottle, shake together the reserved stock (or an equivalent amount of water) and the flour, to make a thickening slurry.
  4. You can use a whisk or even an immersion blender if you like to ensure that there are no lumps in the thickening. To be doubly sure you can also strain the thickening through a sieve if you like.

TIP FOR THICKENING THE GRAVY

  1. At this point, if the pot is very full, I remove about half of the contents temporarily, using a slotted spoon to leave all of the broth behind. This will make thickening the gravy much easier.
  2. Very slowly pour the thickening slurry into the pot while stirring constantly so no lumps can form. You can use part or all of the thickening slurry to get the gravy to your personal desired consistency, If it is still too thin for your preference, just make a little more of the slurry.
  3. Add the vegetables and beef back to the pot if you removed them, and simmer for just a couple of minutes. Taste the gravy and again lightly season if required.
  4. Serve with freshly baked Irish soda bread.

Notes

Please note that this recipe is written for a crowd of up to 16 people. The recipe is easily halved if you are serving fewer people. Plan for leftovers though. This stew is very good a day or two afterward as well. I normally add another splash or two of stock to the pot when I am reheating it.

Nutrition Information

Yield

16

Serving Size

1 serving

Amount Per ServingCalories 605Total Fat 26gSaturated Fat 9gTrans Fat 0gUnsaturated Fat 14gCholesterol 141mgSodium 373mgCarbohydrates 45gFiber 7gSugar 9gProtein 43g

The nutritional information provided is automatically calculated by third party software and is meant as a guideline only. Exact accuracy is not guaranteed. For recipes where all ingredients may not be used entirely, such as those with coatings on meats, or with sauces or dressings for example, calorie & nutritional values per serving will likely be somewhat lower than indicated.

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Irish Stew. An old fashioned step by step recipe with max flavour! (2024)

FAQs

How to make beef stew more flavorful? ›

Add spices such as turmeric, coriander and cumin at the early stage of cooking, when you are frying onions and garlic, to enhance the taste of the beef stew. Fresh herbs like coriander and bay leaves also contribute a distinct flavour without making the dish too spicy for the younger members of the family.

What gave the Irish stew its fresh flavor passage? ›

What gave the Irish stew its fresh flavour? - Quora. Simply by using good quality meat and FRESH vegetables, not frozen. While making stew, the woman of the house would go out to the kitchen garden and cut or pull what she needed, rinse them in cold water, chop them up and add them to the pot.

How do you make stew more tastier? ›

What can you do to make stew more flavorful? Finish it with fresh herbs, of course! Except for thyme, herbs lose their flavor as they simmer. So add dried spices at the beginning of the cooking time and fresh spices (like parsley, dill, tarragon or rosemary) at the end to add a punch of fresh flavor.

What is the basic stew formula? ›

The Ideal Stew Ratio: Two Parts Meat, One Part Vegetable

Most meat-based stews call for tough, inexpensive cuts of meat, while vegetarian recipes include the same onions, carrots, and celery typical of a beef stew. Two parts meat to one part vegetables is the perfect ratio for a meaty stew.

Why does my beef stew have no flavor? ›

Not browning the beef enough would be the first possible problem. That adds a lot of flavour to the finished stew. You can toss the beef in seasoned flour before browning it which will also help thicken the stew. Not adding enough seasoning would be the second potential issue.

What is the most flavorful meat for stew? ›

The best cuts of stew meat are lean with a high concentration of collagen-rich connective tissues—such as chuck or shoulder cuts—that also have some fat marbling for flavor. Lean cuts of meat come from parts of the animal that have lots of muscle, like the legs.

What is traditional Irish stew made from? ›

Irish stew (Irish: Stobhach Gaelach) or Stobhach is a stew native to Ireland that is traditionally made with root vegetables and lamb or mutton, but also commonly with beef. As in all traditional folk dishes, the exact recipe is not consistent from time to time, or place to place.

What makes Irish stew different from regular stew? ›

The main difference between an Irish stew and classic beef stew comes down to the protein. Traditional Irish stew is usually made with lamb, while beef stew is always made with beef.

Why is my Irish stew bitter? ›

Stouts, like Guinness, are known for their bitterness. If the stew is cooked too quickly or if it doesn't include ingredients to balance the bitterness, this flavor can be very pronounced.

How do you fix tasteless stew? ›

Personally I would add as many aromatics and flavor enhancing substances that I like. If the stew is already finished, then you can sauté onions, garlic peppers, celery and carrots then add them to the stew. I would also add some herbs and finally salt and pepper to taste.

How do you fix bland stew? ›

A squeeze of lemon juice can brighten a soup or stew and even a grilled or seared steak. If you'd like to always have juice or zest on hand for seasoning, try freezing in small portions, such as in an ice-cube tray. You can toss the frozen juice or zest straight into a hot soup or stew. Don't overlook vinegars, either.

What ingredient and taste that you would add to enhance the flavor of a bland stew without adding more salt? ›

Things like cinnamon, turmeric, curry powders, fresh ground peppercorns, sage, tarragon and dill can all pick up where you left the salt out. Allow yourself some discovery. Without the added sodium, herbs and spices can offer a different depth of flavor especially if you grind them up yourself.

What not to put in a stew? ›

But the liquid itself should not be thick in the same way that gravy is thick. So skip the roux, and don't bother dusting the meat with flour or cornstarch before browning, either, as some recipes will suggest. That will just interfere with getting a good sear on the meat, and gum up the stew with unneeded starch.

What are the 5 steps of stewing? ›

How to cook a basic stew
  1. Chop the ingredients. Cutting the meat and/or main vegetables to roughly the same size will help them to cook evenly.
  2. Fry your base ingredients. ...
  3. Add the remaining ingredients. ...
  4. Add your liquid of choice. ...
  5. Let it simmer. ...
  6. Season to taste.
Nov 15, 2018

Should you cover stew when simmering? ›

After you bring your stew to a gentle simmer it's important to cook with the lid on as it helps to trap the liquid inside, cook the ingredients evenly, enhance the combination of flavours and prevent the ingredients from drying out.

What can I add to tasteless stew? ›

Personally I would add as many aromatics and flavor enhancing substances that I like. If the stew is already finished, then you can sauté onions, garlic peppers, celery and carrots then add them to the stew. I would also add some herbs and finally salt and pepper to taste.

How do you thicken and add flavor to beef stew? ›

Five Thickening Agents for Stew
  1. Make a Roux. Roux is a classic French technique that consists of cooking equal parts flour and fat (usually butter) over a low flame until smooth. ...
  2. Incorporate a Purée. Another option for thickening your stew is to incorporate a purée. ...
  3. Add a Starch. ...
  4. Create a Slurry. ...
  5. Whip Up a Beurre Manié
Aug 15, 2022

Do you season the beef before stew? ›

Many stew recipes call for seasoning chunks of meat with salt before searing them or adding them unseared to the pot.

Does cooking stew longer make it taste better? ›

Don't Rush the Stewing of the Stew

Your beef stew needs at least two hours, sometimes three, on a low burner, so the meat is tender, and the flavors mingle. This isn't a dish to rush; it's a dish to make on a lazy weekend so you can enjoy the smell as it stews.

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