Irish Beef Stew

Name: Irish Beef Stew
Prep time: 40 min
Cook time: 3 h 15 min
Total time: 3 h 55 min
Yield: 15 servings (3-3/4 quarts).
Ingredients: 8 bacon strips, diced; 1/3 cup all-purpose flour; 1 teaspoon salt; 1/2 teaspoon pepper; 3 pounds beef stew meat, cut into 1-inch cubes; 1 pound whole fresh mushrooms, quartered; 3 medium leeks (white portion only), chopped; 2 medium carrots, chopped; 1/4 cup chopped celery; 1 tablespoon canola oil; 4 garlic cloves, minced; 1 tablespoon tomato paste; 4 cups reduced-sodium beef broth; 1 cup dark stout beer or additional reduced-sodium beef broth; 2 bay leaves; 1 teaspoon dried thyme; 1 teaspoon dried parsley flakes; 1 teaspoon dried rosemary, crushed; 2 pounds Yukon Gold potatoes, cut into 1-inch cubes; 2 tablespoons cornstarch; 2 tablespoons cold water; 1 cup frozen peas

Rich and hearty, this stew is my husband's favorite. The beef is incredibly tender. Served with crusty bread, it's an ideal cool-weather meal and perfect for any Irish holiday. —Carrie Karleen, St. Nicolas, Quebec

Ingredients

8 bacon strips, diced
1/3 cup all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon pepper
3 pounds beef stew meat, cut into 1-inch cubes
1 pound whole fresh mushrooms, quartered
3 medium leeks (white portion only), chopped
2 medium carrots, chopped
1/4 cup chopped celery
1 tablespoon canola oil
4 garlic cloves, minced
1 tablespoon tomato paste
4 cups reduced-sodium beef broth
1 cup dark stout beer or additional reduced-sodium beef broth
2 bay leaves
1 teaspoon dried thyme
1 teaspoon dried parsley flakes
1 teaspoon dried rosemary, crushed
2 pounds Yukon Gold potatoes, cut into 1-inch cubes
2 tablespoons cornstarch
2 tablespoons cold water
1 cup frozen peas

Directions

In a stockpot, cook bacon over medium heat until crisp. Using a slotted spoon, remove to paper towels. In a large resealable plastic bag, combine flour, salt and pepper. Add beef, a few pieces at a time, and shake to coat. Brown beef in the bacon drippings. Remove and set aside.
In the same pan, saute the mushrooms, leeks, carrots and celery in oil until tender. Add garlic; cook 1 minute longer. Stir in tomato paste until blended. Add the broth, beer, bay leaves, thyme, parsley and rosemary. Return beef and bacon to pan. Bring to a boil. Reduce heat; cover and simmer for 2 hours or until beef is tender.
Add potatoes. Return to a boil. Reduce heat; cover and simmer 1 hour longer or until potatoes are tender. Combine cornstarch and water until smooth; stir into stew. Bring to a boil; cook and stir for 2 minutes or until thickened. Add peas; heat through. Discard bay leaves.

Nutrition Facts

1 cup: 301 calories, 13g fat (4g saturated fat), 66mg cholesterol, 441mg sodium, 21g carbohydrate (3g sugars, 2g fiber), 23g protein.

Originally published as County Connemara Beef Stew in Country Woman October/November 2008

Reviews

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Average Rating:

justkathere

May 16, 2018

This is a fantastic stew - but I adapted it to my Power Pro XL Electric Pressure cooker - If you have an electric pressure cooker do the following: Press the Stew/Soup and cook the diced bacon. Remove the bacon and drain on a paper towel for later. Saute the meat in batches in the bacon drippings, if needed brown the meat in batches. Add the rest of the ingredients to the pot, except the mushrooms. Press cancel and repress the Stew/Soup icon. Lock down the lid and cook for 25 minutes. Do a natural release for 10 minutes.Release any remaining steam and open the lid. Press the Stew/Soup icon again. Pour in the cornstarch and water and stir well to mix in. Next add the mushrooms and bring to a boil. Simmer for 10 minutes until the mushrooms are soft. Serve in bowls with crusty French bread to sop up the gravy.
cafe_queen

Mar 18, 2018

This is our favorite St. Patrick's day dinner. I have adapted it for a slow cooker so I can prep everything the night before and start it cooking when we leave in the morning. By the time we get home the house smells wonderful and we are ready to eat. I also use a lamb roast cut up into stew meat instead of beef. My picky eater loves it.
gooch621

Jan 5, 2017

Hearty and robust stew with great complexity of flavors! Amazing!
KFTLR

Oct 20, 2016

Loved it - will make again!!
cookinama

Mar 3, 2015

I have not made this version yet but it is very similar to my grandmothers Irish stew. She was born in Ireland and never made her stew with lamb. My cousins in Ireland also say they use beef. What is not traditional is corned beef That was used by Irish immigrants in America. They also celebrate st Patricks day the way we do Last year my cousins in Ireland were making mojitos as part of their st Patrick s celebration!
Charmcanada

Apr 13, 2014

Excellent! Very tasty.
luigimon

Apr 12, 2014

This is wonderful! Ditto everything Jubilee9527 said!!!!!
Jubilee9527

Mar 18, 2014

This was SUCH a good stew! My husband and I really enjoyed it, the flavor is amazing and it is so thick and robust! It smelled wonderful cooking, too!
bflogal291

Mar 24, 2013

My family loved this!
loleyour

Feb 18, 2013

This was very easy and excellent. I made it when company stopped by. Didnt get enough so I had to make another batch the next day.