◊Recipes - Soups & Stews

Savory Irish Stew - Beef

This simple yet hearty traditional Irish stew is perfect on a cold winter's day. The Stout enhances the savory flavors while the stock and bacon complement the stew beef. It's a great make-ahead, with the flavors even better the next day.

Ingredients:

• 8 ounces thickly sliced bacon, diced
• 2 pounds stewing beef, cut into 1 1/4 inch cubes
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1 teaspoon ground black pepper
• 2 teaspoon dried thyme
• 1/2 cup all-purpose flour
• 5 cloves garlic, minced
• 2 large onions, cut into bite-size pieces
• 2 cups beef stock
• 16 ounces Stout Beer
• 4 Tablespoons Worcestershire sauce
• 1 teaspoon brown sugar
• 2 pounds diced carrots
• 2 pounds potatoes, cubed
• 2 teaspoon dried thyme
• 1 bay leaf

Process:

1. Place bacon in a large, deep skillet. Cook over medium high heat until evenly brown. Drain (reserve fat), crumble, and set aside.
2. Put beef, salt, pepper, thyme, and flour in large mixing bowl. Toss to coat meat evenly. Brown in skillet with 3 Tablespoons bacon fat. Remove meat to stock pot.
3. Add 3 Tablespoons bacon fat to skillet. Add onion and saute till onion begins to become golden. Add garlic and saute for an additional minute (don't brown the garlic!). Deglaze frying pan with 1/2 cup water and add the garlic-onion mixture to the stock pot with bacon pieces, stock, Stout, Worcestershire sauce, and sugar. Cover and simmer until tender (1 - 1.5 hours).
4. Add carrots, onions, potatoes, additional thyme, and bay leaf to pot. Reduce heat, and simmer covered until vegetables are tender (approximately 20 minutes). Salt and pepper to taste.

Serve in bread bowls or with a hearty bread (brown bread, beer bread, etc).

Copyright © 2006-2010 Joe Stutler, Joe's Kitchen™. All rights reserved.

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