Loz's Slow Cooked Irish Guinness Stew

Delicious Bits's Note:

This is an all time favourite! NB (Including some review suggestions - THANKS!): #1 If you prefer fresher veggies (not the stew soaked kind), leave the celery, carrots and potato until the last 1.5 hours. #2 Pumpkin and sweet potato are nice in this too. (try not to exceed the level of the liquid) #3 As a poster suggested: throw some peas and / or corn kernels in at the end to freshen the stew #4 Dumplings can be added #5 Leave out the potatoes and serve on a bed of Mash - fab idea thanks! :) #6 Making a roux to thicken is also a good idea! #7 Enjoy!!! :)

• Total Time: 8 hrs 20 mins
• Prep Time: 20 mins
• Cook Time: 8 hrs

Ingredients:

Servings: 4

• 1 kg chuck steaks or 1 kg round steaks or 1 kg rump beef steaks or 3 -4 lamb shanks
• salt & pepper
• 1/4 cup plain flour
• 2 tablespoons plain flour
• 1/2 cup water
• 2 garlic cloves, crushed
• 1 teaspoon dried rosemary (or 1 tbsp chopped fresh)
• 1 teaspoon dried thyme (or 1 tbsp chopped fresh)
• 2 dried bay leaves
• 400 ml Guinness stout (or more, or other stout-based beer)
• 2 cups beef stock
• 2 tablespoons butter
• 2 -3 tablespoons packed brown sugar
• 2 onions, cut in wedges
• 2 carrots, cut in 1-inch pieces
• 4 stalks celery, chopped
• 1 large potato, peeled and cut in 1-inch pieces
• 1/4 cup chopped fresh parsley

Directions:

1. Stir in beer, stock, the garlic, carrots, celery, potato, bay leaves, thyme and rosemary to slow cooker.
2. Caramelise onions in butter and sugar in a saucepan then add to cooker.
3. Sprinkle meat lightly with 2 tbsp flour, salt and pepper. In batches, brown meat all over, mix all in to the slow cooker. Set on Auto or Low for 8 hours, or High for 4-5 hours.
4. After cooking, mix remaining flour and water in a cup and add to stew. Set on high and stir until thickened. Add parsley and serve with thick slices of Vienna Bread.
5. Sometimes you may need to add a bit more brown sugar if it has a bitter taste.

Reviews

[rokeedy]

After reading the current reviews, I thought to give this a try and it turned out amazing for my first shot! Very tasty! Great recipe I will make again and again! Thanks for the tips everyone!

[hinalea]

Best Guinness stew recipe yet! I doubled the recipe (and put in even more carrots and potatoes) and used a large bottle of Guinness extra stout - do not use the canned Guinness (with the CO2 widget) it does not give the right flavor. Compared to other recipes that don't include the sugar or beef stock but have tomato puree - this one is much heartier.

[swissms]

Very good and easy. I substituted Guinness draught because that is what I had on hand. The recipe directions state to add thyme but it is not listed in the ingredient list...I guessed and added 1 t. dried thyme. I also added 2 bay leaves. I added some chopped celery with the onions and carrots. I omitted the potato and instead served the stew over mashed potatoes. I could detect the taste of flour in the stew so next time I will make a roux rather than just adding flour. Great recipe!