Irish Beef Stew

Irish Beef Stew

In the United States, we're always eager for a reason to celebrate, enjoy a beer, and indulge in comforting meals. With my daughters' Irish ancestry evident in their red hair and fair skin, our family has long embraced Irish traditions. While cabbage, soda bread, Guinness pie, and bangers and mash are all beloved Irish dishes, nothing quite compares to a hearty beef stew.

Our s.a.l.t. sisters Irish Beef Stew is the perfect dish for a crisp March day – including St. Patrick's Day – or any cool evening when you want to curl up with comfort food. While we always aim for quality ingredients, stewing meat allows for more economical cuts. Even tougher meats with abundant connective tissue work well, as the long cooking process breaks down proteins and melts connective tissue into gelatin, resulting in a nutrient-dense, collagen-rich meal.

The beauty of this stew lies in its flexibility. You can adjust the cooking time to achieve your preferred texture, whether you like your meat with a bit of chew or so tender it falls apart. In our household, this pot of goodness is truly worth its weight in gold! Enjoy this delicious stew that not only warms the body but also celebrates Irish heritage and the magic of slow-cooked meals.

Serves: 4-6

Ingredients: 

•  2 ½ lbs. beef chuck, cut into 2" chunks
• 3 TBSP all-purpose flour
• 2 tsp + 1 tsp s.a.l.t. sisters Blend, to taste
• 2 TBSP avocado oil
• 6 oz. thick cut bacon, diced, optional
• 2 onions, chopped
• 4 cloves garlic, minced
• 3 TBSP tomato paste
• 4 large carrots, peeled and medium diced
• 3 stalks of celery, chopped
• 4 cups chicken or beef broth, salt free or low sodium
• 1 cup Guinness beer (or any stout beer)
• 1 TBSP Worcestershire sauce
• 2 bay leaves
• 5 sprigs of thyme
• Chopped fresh parsley for garnish (optional)
• Prepared mashed potatoes

Directions: 

1. Preheat the oven to 350° F. In a large bowl, toss the beef stew meat with the flour, and 1 teaspoon of  s.a.l.t. sisters Blend until the meat is well coated.
2. Heat the avocado oil in a large pot or dutch oven over medium-high heat. Sear and brown your beef chunks in batches, making sure to brown on all sides. Remove the browned batch before adding the next batch. Set aside.
3. In the same pot, add bacon over medium heat, sautée 2 minutes. Add the chopped onions and garlic, and sautée until softened and fragrant, about 3 minutes. Add tomato paste, stir, cook for about 2 minutes.
4. Return the browned beef to the pot. Add the chopped carrots, celery, broth, Guinness beer, Worcestershire sauce, bay leaves, thyme sprigs, and remaining s.a.l.t. sisters Blend. Stir well to combine.  
5. Bring to a simmer, then cover.  Place in the oven for 1½–2 hours.  Or if you prefer to cook on the stovetop, bring the mixture to a boil, then reduce heat to low.  Cover the pot and simmer for about 1½–2 hours, stirring occasionally, until the beef is tender.
6. Taste the stew and adjust the seasoning to preferred taste, if needed.
7. Remove the bay leaves from the stew. Ladle the Irish Beef Stew into bowls over mashed potatoes and garnish with chopped fresh parsley, if desired.  Serve hot with crusty bread or Irish soda bread for a traditional touch. Alternative to serving over mashed potatoes, add 1 lb. baby golden potatoes, halved, when adding beef back into the pot.

Enjoy your hearty and flavorful traditional Irish Beef Stew!