Irish Stew Recipe with Lamb & Guinness | Craft Beering (2024)

Traditional Irish stew recipe with Guinness stout for deeper flavors.

Irish Stew Recipe with Lamb & Guinness | Craft Beering (1)

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Read on for relevant tips and step by step pictures (2 mins)

About This Irish Stew Recipe

How do you make an authentic Irish stew? The answer is not in the Guinness. For a traditional Irish stew you need to use the right cut of meat and begin with bacon.

The best cut of meat to use for Irish lamb stew is lamb shoulder. It is considered the most flavorful, its fine marbling is well suited for stewingand it becomes more tender than any other cut.

Many stores offer pre-cut lamb shoulder for stew (as seen below) or you can buy lamb shoulder, trim the fat and cut it into cubes yourself.

Irish Stew Recipe with Lamb & Guinness | Craft Beering (2)

Traditionally Irish stews begin with bacon fat. It only makes sense. Back in the day processed vegetable oils were not common, olive oil was a luxury to Ireland, and butter burns easily – so animal fats were the grease of choice.

Irish Stew Recipe with Lamb & Guinness | Craft Beering (3)

Once you have the meat sorted out, round up veggies and spices traditional to Irish cooking.

Potatoes. If in season use the small spring variety, otherwise all purpose potatoes such as Yukon Gold are great.

Veggies. Carrots, onions, peas (optional).

Beef stock. Homemade or good quality store bought.

Flour. As a thickening agent for the stew.

Flavoring agents. Garlic, salt and pepper and fresh herbs/spices.Both thyme and parsley are commonly used and caraway seeds are a traditional spice for lamb stew in Ireland. If you enjoy caraway seeds and have them on hand you can use them ground. A bay leaf (optional) is complimentary to braised meats and meat stews.

Guinness. We discuss its use in detail below.

The Guinness Stout Addition

In the past the Irish cooked stews without adding dark ale to flavor the meat. Besides, mutton, not lamb was much more commonly used in the past.It’s logical – in the grand scheme of things lamb stews were enjoyed way before Guinness stout became a household name after the 1820s.

The roasted barley used to brew Guinness imparts a lovely toasty smokiness to the lamb via the ale addition. Along with the stout’s malty sweetness and slight acidic tinge the flavor contributions to the stew are very desirable.

Tried and true. Chris, the chef and freckled, strawberry blonde Irish part of Craft Beering always adds a Guinness to lamb stew. Plus we love cooking with beer.

The Lamb Stew Process

For this recipe you only need one heavy bottomed pot with a lid such as a Dutch oven or a braiser.

Irish Stew Recipe with Lamb & Guinness | Craft Beering (4)Irish Stew Recipe with Lamb & Guinness | Craft Beering (5)

  • Step 1. Slice good quality, thick cut bacon in chunks and render the fat over medium heat.Next, remove the bacon pieces, set them on a paper napkin lined plate and turn your attention to the lamb.
  • Step 2. Season flour with salt and pepper (plus ground caraway seed, optional) and coat the lamb chunks.Brown them in the bacon fat, on all sides and over medium-high heat for a good sear.
  • Work in batches so as to not overcrowd the pot and then remove them and set aside.
  • Step 3. Saute a large diced onion and minced garlic, dust them with seasoned flour once softened and then deglaze with a bottle of Guinness.Use a wooden spatula to scrape of all the brown bits from the bottom of the pot.
  • Step 4. Add the beef broth, the browned lamb, and the bacon. Stir, cover and let simmer for an hour and a half.While the lamb stews away, prep the potatoes, carrots and remaining onions. Aim for bite sized pieces.
  • Step 5. Add the vegetables to the pot along with the fresh thyme and (if using) bay leaf. Stir, cover and simmer until the vegetables are soft.

TIP: If you want to add peas, add them at the very end, just a few minutes before the rest of the veggies are completely soft.

Enjoy Your Irish Stew with Guinness and Brown Bread

Irish Stew Recipe with Lamb & Guinness | Craft Beering (6)

Lamb stew can be served right away or after a night or two (be sure to store refrigerated and covered). The flavors develop and once reheated it tastes even richer.

Once the lamb stew is done and you are ready to serve chop some fresh parsley to use as garnish.

Serve with Irish brown bread or soda breador another white bread to mop up the delicious, thick liquids of the stew. Be sure to include a flavorful ale as part of the meal.

A dark ale with a roasty character such as an Irish stout makes a wonderful companion to a bowl of this hearty stew. You can also pair it with a barley wine or a hoppy brown ale.

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Irish Stew Recipe with Lamb & Guinness | Craft Beering (7)

Irish Stew Recipe with Lamb & Guinness

Yield: 6

Prep Time: 20 minutes

Cook Time: 2 hours

Total Time: 2 hours 20 minutes

Authentic Irish stew recipe with lamb meat and Guinness stout for roasty notes and a rich malty infusion.

Ingredients

  • 1/2 lb bacon, thick cut, smoked recommended, cut in 1-2 inch pieces
  • 1 1/2 lb lamb, shoulder recommended, trimmed of fat and cut for stew
  • 1/4 cup flour
  • 1 tsp salt
  • 1/2 tsp pepper
  • 2 tsp ground caraway seed (optional)
  • 3 onions, one large head (diced) and two medium heads (cut in bigger chunks)
  • 3 cloves garlic, minced
  • 12 oz Guinness
  • 2 1/2 cups beef broth
  • 2 cups carrots, cut in bite sized chunks, if using baby carrots slice diagonally
  • 8 potatoes, medium-sized, cut into bite sized chunks
  • 1 cup frozen peas (optional)
  • 4-5 sprigs thyme
  • 1 bay leaf
  • parsley, for garnish

Instructions

  1. Over medium heat render the fat from the bacon. Remove bacon pieces and drain on paper towel.
  2. Turn the heat up to medium-high. Mix flour, salt, pepper and ground caraway seeds (if using) and coat the lamb chunks in the mix. Shake of excess and brown the lamb in the bacon fat. Work in batches and then set aside. Reserve 1 tbsp of the seasoned flour.
  3. Lower the heat back to medium and saute the large, diced onion and the minced garlic. Once softened, dust with the reserved seasoned flour and cook for another minute.
  4. Add the Guinness to deglaze the bottom of the pot and use a wooden spatula to scrape off all brown bits. Add the beef stock and bring to simmer.
  5. Add the browned lamb pieces back to the simmering pot, then add the bacon pieces. Cover and simmer on medium-low for 1 1/2 hours.
  6. Add the prepped potatoes, carrots and remaining two onions. Add the thyme and bay leaf. Stir, cover and simmer for another 20-25 minutes or until the veggies are soft.
  7. If using frozen peas, add them about 3 minutes before you turn off the heat.
  8. Serve with white bread on the side and garnish generously with parsley. Pair with Guinness or other Irish stout.

Notes

  • You can grind caraway seeds using a pestle and mortar or a coffee grinder. If you use the latter, do not worry they might take on coffee flavors. Those are already present in the Guinness:)
  • Try to use lamb chunks cut in more or less uniform pieces for more even cooking. The same applies for the potatoes, carrots and onion.
  • Be sure to brown the chunks of lamb on all sides.
  • If using fresh peas, add them a few minutes earlier than the noted time for frozen peas which have been blanched.

If you have extra Guinness on hand you can make this Irish Brown Bread to serve alongside the stew.

Nutrition Information:

Yield: 6Serving Size: 6 Servings
Amount Per Serving:Calories: 617Saturated Fat: 8.4gCholesterol: 144mgSodium: 171mgCarbohydrates: 36.6gFiber: 6.6gSugar: 7gProtein: 52.7g

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Irish Stew Recipe with Lamb & Guinness | Craft Beering (2024)

FAQs

What is the difference between stew and Irish stew? ›

The main difference between an Irish stew and classic beef stew comes down to the protein. Traditional Irish stew is usually made with lamb, while beef stew is always made with beef. Our version includes beef chuck, which is less traditional, but easy to make and equally delicious.

How do you take the bitterness out of Guinness stew? ›

Naturally sweet ingredients, like onions, carrots, and tomato paste work to balance some of the bitterness.

What is traditional Irish stew made of? ›

The epitome of comfort food, traditional Irish stew has only a few ingredients: mutton, onions and potatoes. In southern Ireland carrots are added, and some cooks venture so far as to add turnips. These days, young lamb often replaces mutton for a more delicate version.

What are 2 names for Irish stew? ›

Irish stew (Irish: Stobhach Gaelach) or Stobhach is a stew from Ireland that is traditionally made with root vegetables and lamb or mutton, but also commonly with beef.

What gave the Irish stew its fresh flavor? ›

This is why traditional Irish stew is made with either lamb or mutton. Lamb or mutton neckbones and shanks are the best for adding flavor to your recipe, along with root vegetables like carrots, parsnips, and turnips.

What is the best way to thicken Irish stew? ›

Whisk a teaspoon of flour in a little cold water to make a slurry, then stir into the stew as it's cooking. Don't add dry flour directly to the stew as it may clump. After adding the slurry, bring the stew to boil. This will cook out the flour taste and allow the starch to swell.

Why do you put beer in stew? ›

Beer adds a rich, earthy flavor to soups and stews that makes them taste like they've been simmering for hours. Beers with a sweet or nutty taste can add depth to desserts. And don't worry about getting drunk – virtually all of the alcohol evaporates during the cooking process.

What is Guinness and bitter called? ›

A black and tan is a beer co*cktail made by layering a pale beer (usually pale ale) and a dark beer (usually stout). In Ireland, the drink is called a half and half. Black and tan. co*cktail.

Is Guinness beer too bitter? ›

The creamy, nitrogenated head of Guinness has a bitter note to it, this is crucial to the beer's overall flavor profile. If the head is too small, it means not enough bitterness to balance the sweetness from the malt. If the head is too big, it gives too much bitterness which overwhelms the sweetness.

Why do Irish people eat Irish stew? ›

The origins of Irish stew are somewhat shrouded in mystery, but it's believed to have originated in the 17th or 18th century. At that time, the dish was often made by shepherds and rural farmers who had access to only a few ingredients but needed a nourishing meal to sustain them through long days of work.

What is the difference between Irish and English stew? ›

While Irish stew (in the modern sense) can be made with mutton, lamb, or beef, beef stew is always made with beef. Both stews can contain potatoes, root vegetables, flavorings like beer or wine and herbs, and thickened with potato, flour, cornstarch, or nothing at all.

What animal is lamb stew from? ›

Lamb stew is a preparation in which tough cuts of lamb (by definition, taken from a sheep younger than one year of age in Europe or younger than two years of age in the United States, at the time of slaughter) or mutton (lamb's counterpart on the older side of the dividing line) are cut into small pieces, seared in hot ...

What do Irish people called potatoes? ›

The Irish language is very descriptive the common word for potato in Irish is práta (pl. prátaí), hence the origin of Praties for Potatoes, There are literally 50 Irish words and descriptive phrases relating to the potato.

What is Ireland's national dish? ›

Irish Stew is a thick, hearty dish of mutton, potatoes, and onions and undisputedly the national dish of Ireland.

What is gravy in Ireland? ›

In British and Irish cuisine, as well as in the cuisines of Commonwealth countries like Australia, Canada and New Zealand, the word gravy refers only to the meat-based sauce derived from meat juices, stock cubes or gravy granules. Use of the word "gravy" does not include other thickened sauces.

Why is Irish stew famous? ›

Though the Romans had long outgrown it by then, stewing came to prominence in Ireland during the early 19th century, during a period of economic turmoil that led to mass poverty. With only a hanging pot, an open fire and a few fairly easily attainable ingredients, even poor families were able to survive on Irish stew.

What makes a stew a stew? ›

A stew's meat or vegetables are barely covered with cooking liquid (usually water, broth or stock, oftentimes enhanced by wine or beer for additional flavor) and, during cooking, the liquid reduces to a gravy-like base that is sometimes thickened by flour, cornstarch or a roux.

What is the difference between goulash and Irish stew? ›

Irish stew is made of lamb, potatoes and carrots and is very simply flavored with perhaps parsley or thyme and salt and pepper. In contrast, Hungarian goulash is made of beef and flavored very strongly with paprika.

What is the national dish of Ireland? ›

The National Dishes of Ireland

Irish Stew is a thick, hearty dish of mutton, potatoes, and onions and undisputedly the national dish of Ireland.

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