Traditional Irish Stew Recipe

Let’s make the super satisfying and warming beef stew. It is a traditional Irish dish with a delicious taste. The stew is a popular meal on St. Patrick’s Day. But you can make a bowl of stew any time you want something hearty and comforting. Irish stew is loved around the world for its delightful combination of meat and vegetable flavors. Follow a traditional Irish stew recipe to fill the kitchen with an appetizing aroma and enjoy a delicious and satisfying meal for the holidays or any time.

Traditional Irish Stew, a hearty and soul-warming dish that embodies the essence of comfort food. This recipe pays homage to the rich culinary heritage of Ireland, combining simple ingredients to create a symphony of flavors. The slow simmering of lamb or mutton, potatoes, and vegetables results in a wholesome and satisfying stew that transports you to the picturesque landscapes of the Emerald Isle. Sláinte!

Vadim Rachok

Chef

What is Irish Stew?

Irish Stew has a long and storied history. This dish originated in Ireland and is beloved for its hearty and comforting flavors. Its origins can be traced back to the Irish countryside where it was a staple meal for generations of families. The Irish Stew was an economical and resourceful way to feed a family, as it was traditionally made with whatever ingredients were readily available.

At their most basic, Irish stews had just a few key ingredients: meat (usually lamb or mutton), potatoes, onions, and water. These ingredients were cooked together until the meat was tender and the flavors blended in a large pot over an open fire or on a stove.

Over time, variations of Irish stew emerged, with different regions of Ireland adding their own twists and adaptations to the dish based on local ingredients and preferences. This Irish Stew recipe allows you to prepare a hearty dish with tender beef, sautéd vegetables, beer, and aromatic condiments. 

Irish Stew Recipe ingredients

• Beef: Beef provides a hearty and satisfying base for the dish and is the primary protein in Irish stew.
• Celery Root: It complements the other ingredients, adding depth of flavor and a subtle earthiness to the stew.
• Garlic: Its aromatic and pungent flavor enhances the savory profile of the stew.
• Cumin: Cumin adds a warm and earthy note to the stew that enhances the overall flavor profile of the dish.
• Worcestershire Sauce: It adds depth and complexity to the umami-rich flavor of the stew.
• Brown Sugar: Brown sugar balances the salty taste with a hint of sweetness, creating a well-rounded flavor.
• Beef or Chicken Broth: It provides a savory liquid base for the stew and infuses it with rich meaty aromas.
• Beer (Guinness): Adds depth and richness to the stew with its malty flavor. It creates a distinctive taste that is characteristic of Irish cuisine.
• Salt: Add salt to taste to enhance the stew flavor.
• Freshly ground black pepper: Add a sweet and savory flavor base to the stew with black paper.
• Onion: Onion contributes sweetness and a hearty texture for a stew.
• Carrots: Use carrots to add depth to stews with a sweet, earthy flavor.
• Potatoes: Potatoes give the stew substance, texture, and thickness.
• Fresh rosemary and thyme: It adds an aromatic, piney flavor to a stew.
• Fresh parsley: Finishes and garnishes with a fresh, herbal note with fresh parsley.

How to make Traditional Irish Stew

Let’s take a look at each step of the stew recipe. 

1. First, cut the meat into medium-sized cubes.
2. Then, cut the potatoes into wedges, the carrots and celery into triangles, and the onion into cubes.
3. Dice the garlic and cut the parsley into strips.
4. Heat a frying pan on the stove, add sunflower oil, and fry the beef until golden brown on each side. Then, add the rosemary, garlic, and cumin and cook for another 2-3 minutes.
5. Season with salt and pepper and pour in the broth. Cover and simmer on low for 1 hr and 30 minutes. 
6. While the meat is simmering, sauté the vegetables. Heat sunflower oil in a saucepan. Add potatoes and cook until golden brown (8-10 minutes), add carrots and celery, and cook for another 8 minutes. Season with salt and pepper.
7. Then, add the stewed meat to the vegetables, remove the thyme and rosemary, and add the Worcestershire sauce, Guinness, brown sugar, salt, and pepper. 
8. Simmer for another 30 minutes to cook the vegetables. It is not necessary to cover the dish at this stage.
9. Add butter and herbs, stir, and serve on a platter.

Chef Recipe Tips:

• If the meat is tough, add broth or water (300-400 g) and simmer for another hour.
• If the sauce is too thin at the end, after stewing the meat with the beer and vegetables, you can thicken it with starch or flour (0.4 ounces (10 g) of flour for the entire mass).

How to store Irish Stew?

Similar to most stews and casseroles, this Irish stew tastes equally delicious, if not more flavorful, when consumed the following day. You can store it in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 4 days.

Irish Stew vs. Beef Stew

An old-fashioned, traditional Irish stew usually contains mutton or lamb, potatoes, and maybe a few carrots. Modern versions of this comforting dish vary widely. While Irish stews (as we know them today) can be made with mutton, lamb, or beef. Beef stews are always made with beef.

Both stews can be thickened with potatoes, flour, cornstarch, or nothing at all, and may include potatoes, root vegetables, flavorings such as beer or wine, and herbs.