Guinness Stew
Happy St. Paddy's Day!
St. Patrick's Day is a cultural and religious holiday celebrated on March 17th, commemorating the death date of Saint Patrick, the patron saint of Ireland. Originally observed as a religious feast day in Ireland, it has evolved into a global celebration of Irish culture, heritage, and identity.
The day is marked by various festivities, including parades, festivals and gatherings, with green being the dominant colour to symbolize Ireland and its lush landscapes. People worldwide, whether of Irish descent or not, participate in the celebrations by donning green clothing, accessories, and even dyeing rivers or landmarks green.
Traditional Irish food and drinks also play a significant role in St. Patrick's Day celebrations. Popular dishes include Irish stew, colcannon (a mashed potato dish with cabbage) and soda bread. Beverages such as Guinness stout, Irish whiskey and Irish coffee are enjoyed by many during the festivities.
And today let's explore the Irish stew!
Guinness stew is a hearty and flavourful stew that has its roots in Irish cuisine. It typically consists of tender chunks of beef, potatoes, carrots, celery and onions, all simmered together in a rich and robust broth made with Guinness stout, a dark and malty beer that adds depth and complexity to the dish.
The key to a delicious Irish Guinness stew lies in the slow cooking process, which allows the flavours to meld together and the meat to become tender and succulent. Traditionally, the stew is cooked low and slow on the stovetop or in the oven, allowing the ingredients to simmer and develop a deep, savoury flavour.
The addition of Guinness stout not only adds a unique taste to the stew, but also helps tenderize the meat and create a rich, velvety sauce. The dark beer imparts a slightly bitter and roasted flavour, which balances well with the sweetness of the vegetables and the richness of the beef. As the stew cooks, the alcohol in the Guinness evaporates, leaving behind its deep, distinctive flavour and enhancing the overall taste of the dish.
Cut the beef into big chunks.
Heat up oil in a pot over high heat, then add the beef, season with salt and pepper and let them brown well for a few minutes. Then remove on a plate and set aside.
Lower the heat to medium. Add a bit of water if needed, and add diced onion and garlic and saute for a few minutes.
Add a tablespoon a flour, then stir and cook for a minute.
Add Guinness, hot seasoned beef stock and tomato paste. Mix well, return the beef into the pot, and add bay leaves, thyme and rosemary.
Cover with a lid and simmer for 3 hours.
Add carrots and celery cut into 1.5-2 cm chunks, remove the lid and continue cooking for another hour until meat is falling apart. Add more water occasionally if needed.
Serve over mashed potatoes.
Guinness Stew
Ingredients
Instructions
- Cut the beef into big chunks.
- Heat up oil in a pot over high heat, then add the beef, season with salt and pepper and let them brown well for a few minutes. Then remove on a plate and set aside.
- Lower the heat to medium. Add a bit of water if needed, and add diced onion and garlic and saute for a few minutes.
- Add a tablespoon a flour, then stir and cook for a minute.
- Add Guinness, hot seasoned beef stock and tomato paste. Mix well, return the beef into the pot, and add bay leaves, thyme and rosemary.
- Cover with a lid and simmer for about 3 hours.
- Add carrots and celery cut into 1.5-2 cm chunks, remove the lid and continue cooking for another hour until meat is falling apart. Add more water occasionally if needed.
- Serve over mashed potatoes.
