Lancashire Hot Pot

Lancashire hot pot is the English version of Irish stew. This is a hearty dish traditionally made with mutton, but lamb is much more available. When we made it, we opted to add a little white wine to the vegetables for additional moisture when cooking them.

• Ready In: 2 hrs 20 mins
• Serves: 8

Ingredients

• 2 1⁄2 lbs lamb, trimmed of excess fat and sinew and cut into bite sized cubes
• 1⁄4 cup flour
• 2  ounces butter or 2  ounces shortening or 2  ounces  fat or 2  ounces  oil
• 2  large onions, sliced
• 1  cup  chopped celery
• 1  large parsnip, peeled and sliced (carrots may be subbed if you can't find parsnips)
• 1 3⁄4 cups  chicken stock or 1 3⁄4 cups  beef stock
• 8  ounces  sliced fresh mushrooms
• 2  teaspoons dried herbs (parsley, sage, rosemary, and thyme)
• 1  tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
•  salt and pepper
• 4  medium russet potatoes, peeled and thinly sliced

Directions

1. Preheat oven to 325°F.
2. Spray your casserole with cooking spray or brush lightly with butter or oil.
3. Heat the butter, shortening, or oil in a large frying pan.
4. Toss meat cubes in flour; shake off excess and reserve.
5. Fry quickly on all sides until brown; remove from frying pan and place into casserole.
6. Add onions, celery and parsnip (or carrot, if substituting) to pan and cook until nearly tender.
7. Place on top of meat in casserole.
8. Sprinkle remaining flour in frying pan and cook, stirring constantly until toasted.
9. Gradually pour in stock and stir until mixture comes to the boil.
10. Add mushrooms, salt and pepper, herbs and Worcestershire sauce; simmer for approximately ten minutes (you're looking for a medium sauce).
11. Remove from heat and pour over meat and vegetables.
12. Place overlapping slices of potato to completely cover the meat and vegetables.
13. Cover casserole dish with lid and place in preheated oven.
14. Cook for 1 1/4 hours.
15. Remove lid and continue cooking an additional 30 minutes or until potatoes are browned.
16. Serve hot.