English Beef Stew and Dumplings

Chef #485996's Note:

A comforting beef stew for those cold evenings in. Traditional British dish.

• Total Time: 2 hrs 10 mins
• Prep Time: 10 mins
• Cook Time: 2 hrs

Ingredients:

Servings: 4

• 1 lb stewing beef
• 1 lb red potatoes
• 500 g carrots
• 2 onions
• 1 swede
• 2 leeks
• 100 g mushrooms
• 2 stalks celery
• beef suet
• flour
• water

Directions:

1. Peel and chop all vegetables.
2. Brown steak in a large stockpot.
3. Add water to cover.
4. Add all vegetables.
5. Pour over gravy granules.
6. Aimmer for 2 hours.
7. Make dumplings by combining 2oz suet, 4oz plain flour and a little water. Separate into small balls and roll in flour. Add to top of stew half an hour before end of cooking. They are ready when well risen.
8. This recipe freezes very well and is a weekly meal in our home.

Reviews

[French Tart]

Being British, this is familiar and comforting food me me! This was a good classic recipe that Malcolm and I enjoyed very much indeed! 5 stars for flavour, but 4 stars for directions, as I did not know about the gravy granules until I read the method! (They need to be added to the ingredients!) The quantities are also posted in Imperial and Metric, which is a little confusing, although NOT a huge problem! I used Morrison's Roast Beef gravy granules. I made one tiny substitution, I did not add any mushrooms, but added an extra swede instead. I made my mum's dumplings, Fluffy Little Clouds - Old Fashioned Dumplings for Stew and they compelted this one pot meal. This is a wonderful recipe worthy of many more reviews......thanks very much for flying the British flag! Made for the Belly Warmers Photo Event January 2009 - very much enjoyed! FT:-)