Hearty Traditional Irish Beef Stew
Irish Beef Stew is a classic comfort dish, famous for its rich, savory flavor and tender chunks of beef simmered slowly with vegetables. Perfect for cozy dinners, this stew relies on simple, quality ingredients and slow cooking to create a deeply satisfying meal.
Ingredients
For the stew:
2 lbs (900 g) beef chuck, cut into 1–1.5 inch cubes
Salt and freshly ground black pepper, to taste
3 tbsp all-purpose flour, for dredging
2–3 tbsp vegetable oil
1 large onion, chopped
3 cloves garlic, minced
4 large carrots, peeled and cut into chunks
3–4 medium potatoes, peeled and cut into chunks
2–3 stalks celery, chopped
4 cups beef broth (or enough to cover ingredients)
1 cup Guinness stout (optional, for deeper flavor)
2 tsp Worcestershire sauce
2 tsp tomato paste
2–3 sprigs fresh thyme (or 1 tsp dried thyme)
1–2 bay leaves
Fresh parsley, chopped, for garnish
Instructions
1️⃣ Brown the beef
Pat beef cubes dry and season with salt and pepper.
Dredge lightly in flour, shaking off excess.
Heat oil in a large pot or Dutch oven over medium-high heat.
Brown the beef in batches, 3–4 minutes per side. Remove and set aside.
2️⃣ Sauté the vegetables
In the same pot, sauté onions, carrots, and celery for 4–5 minutes until softened.
Add garlic and cook for 1 minute until fragrant.
3️⃣ Build the stew
Return beef to the pot.
Stir in tomato paste and cook 1–2 minutes.
Add beef broth, Guinness (if using), and Worcestershire sauce.
Add thyme and bay leaves.
4️⃣ Simmer slowly
Bring to a boil, then reduce heat to low.
Cover and simmer 1.5–2 hours, stirring occasionally, until beef is tender.
5️⃣ Add potatoes
Stir in potatoes and continue simmering 30–40 minutes until tender.
Adjust seasoning with salt and pepper as needed.
6️⃣ Serve
Remove bay leaves and thyme sprigs.
Garnish with fresh parsley.
Serve hot with crusty bread or over mashed potatoes for a traditional Irish feast.
Tips:
Mash a few potatoes in the pot to naturally thicken the stew.
Slow cooking in the oven at 300°F (150°C) for 2–3 hours gives even more tender beef.
