Irish stew - Diane Watkins
This Irish stew recipe is a traditional peasant food in Ireland. Chunks of leftover meat are added to potatoes and any other root vegetables that might be available and slow cooked to make a tender, tasty stew. The vegetables are filling and healthy, low in fat and calories.
Peasants would have made this dish with water, but the Guinness gives an excellent flavor. Beef, chicken, or vegetable broth will also work.
This is a good dish for the crock-pot. No browning is required, and after simmering all day, the meat will be very tender. All of the ingredients except the parsley go into the crock-pot together. The parsley gets stirred in at serving time for a fresh flavor and color.
Lamb is traditional in this dish, but beef works well also. This recipe is a guide, but you can use whatever vegetables you like and still get a great stew.
Irish stew recipe
Cooking time: 20 minutes to chop vegetables, 8 hours to cook, unsupervised
Serves 6 to 8
2 pounds boneless lamb, trimmed and cut into 1-inch pieces, or substitute beef
2 pounds potatoes, peeled and cut into 1-inch pieces
3 large leeks, whites only, halved, washed and thinly sliced
3 large carrots, peeled and cut into 1-inch chunks
3 stalks celery, thinly sliced
1 12 ounce bottle Guinness stout or broth
2 teaspoons chopped fresh thyme or 2/3 teaspoon dried thyme
1 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon ground black pepper
¼ cup packed fresh parsley leaves, chopped
1. Combine all the ingredients except the parsley in your crock-pot. Add a little extra water or broth if needed to almost cover the vegetables. They do not need to be completely covered; the vegetables and meat will give off juices of their own.
2. Set the temperature to low and cook for 8 hours. This time is not critical. The meat should be tender, if not cook a little longer.
3. Just before serving, stir in the parsley and dish into large bowls. Serve with Irish Soda Bread and a bottle of Guinness for a traditional St. Patrick's Day feast.
May the luck of the Irish be with you!
Looking for easy Irish recipes?
The History of St. Patrick's Day
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