Irish Stew Recipe: How to Make Irish stew with lamb and Guinness
Irish stew is an easy stew recipe made with lamb or mutton and some vegetables such as russet potatoes (or as some people do call them, Irish potatoes) and carrots. Traditional Irish stew recipe requires the use of lamb or mutton but modern versions now use beef or chicken for making this hearty stew. In this recipe, I will be showing how to make Irish stew with lamb and Guinness stout. If you don't take Guinness, then you can omit this; the addition of Guinness stout to this stew greatly changes the flavor for the better.
Servings 6 people
Calories 200kcal
Ingredients
- 700 grams Lamb (or Mutton) - cut into chunks.
- 1 cup Guinness stout
- 7 whole Russet Potatoes - cut into chunks.
- 1 cup Carrots - diced into small pieces.
- 4 sprigs fresh Thyme
- 2 whole Bay leaves
- 3 cloves Garlic - minced
- 2 tbsp Worcestershire sauce
- 1 tsp Black Pepper powder
- ½ tsp Salt
- 2 sticks Celery - chopped
- 750 ml Lamb broth
- 4 tbsp Olive oil
Instructions
- Pat the lamb with a paper towel to reduce the water content
- Season the lamb with ¼ tsp of black pepper powder and ¼ tsp of salt
- Place a pot or saucepan on the stovetop and add 2 tbsp of olive oil.
- Now, bring in the seasoned lamb into the hot oil and brown the lamb on both sides.
- Once the lamb is brown in color, remove and keep it side
- Add extra 2 tbsps of olive oil to the same pot used for frying the lamb and then bring in the chopped onions.
- After stir-frying the onions, add the chopped celery sticks and minced garlic cloves; cook for a minute.
- Add 2 tbsp of tomato paste
- Also, add 750 ml of lamb broth
- Now, add 1 can or cup of Guinness stout. This enhances the flavor of the Irish stew and gives it the typical dark color.
- Return the fried lamb into the stew.
- Add 4 sprigs of fresh thyme, 2 tbsp of Worcestershire sauce, ¼ tsp of salt, and black pepper.
- Also, add 2 bay leaves to your easy Irish stew for more flavor.
- Stir everything together and reduce the heat to low; then cover and cook for 1 hour to soften the lamb.
- The lamb is soft after cooking for 1 hour and Irish stew is beginning to thicken because the liquid has reduced.
- Add the chopped potatoes and carrots into the Irish stew.
- The liquid in the stew should have been reduced, so add 2 cups of water to it.
- Stir everything together and cover the stew and cook for 30 to 40 minutes until the potatoes are soft and the lamb is tender. The potatoes help to thicken the lamb stew especially when they are so soft.
- Your easy Irish stew recipe is ready. This homemade Irish stew can be served with some boiled rice, pasta, or any dish that calls for use of stew.
Video
Notes
How to Make Thick Irish Stew
To make thick Irish stew, simply add some diced potatoes to it and cook for about 30 minutes until the potatoes are soft. If after 30 the Irish stew is not thickened, then mash some of the potatoes and cook for another 15 minutes.What are the main ingredients of Irish stew?
The main ingredients of Irish stew are Lamb, russet potatoes, parsley (for garnishing), carrots, and onions. Lamb, mutton, or beef can be used as the meat. Other ingredients are just added for more flavoring such as thyme and Guinness (which is optional).