{"id":48462,"date":"2018-01-01T00:00:00","date_gmt":"2017-09-09T00:20:00","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/origin-www.tasteofhome.com\/recipes\/irish-beef-stew\/"},"modified":"2024-03-11T13:48:00","modified_gmt":"2024-03-11T18:48:00","slug":"irish-beef-stew","status":"publish","type":"recipe","link":"https:\/\/www.tasteofhome.com\/recipes\/irish-beef-stew\/","title":{"rendered":"Irish Beef Stew"},"content":{"rendered":"

Irish stew is one of the best cozy, stick-to-the-ribs dishes that fills bellies and keeps everyone warm. When you think of classic, savory Irish recipes<\/a>, it’s right up there along with things like shepherd’s pie<\/a>, a big Irish breakfast<\/a> and slow-cooked corned beef<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Simmered for several hours in a stockpot, this Irish beef stew has big chunks of meat and vegetables, with a savory gravy that gets lots of flavor from stout beer and herbs. The payoff of a long cook time is an abundance of rich stew to feed a crowd. This hearty dish is ideal for St. Patrick’s Day<\/a> or for any big gathering of family and friends. Seriously, it’s one of our favorite stew recipes<\/a>.<\/p>\n

What’s the difference between beef stew and Irish stew?<\/h2>\n

Classic beef stew<\/a> is made with tough cuts of beef that are simmered with potatoes, carrots, peas, onions and other vegetables until tender. The cooking liquid is thickened into gravy with a flour-based roux.<\/p>\n

By contrast, a true Irish stew of the old days was simple, and instead of beef, it was made with mutton. In the 19th and early-20th centuries, beef was too expensive for poor families in Ireland, but most farmers kept sheep, making mutton an affordable protein. This tough meat was simmered for hours until very tender, then combined with chunks of potatoes and onions. The potatoes were also used to thicken the gravy.<\/p>\n

Irish stew has evolved since those early days, and today it’s common to see Irish stews made with either beef or lamb. The potatoes and onions are still there, along with other flavorful ingredients like carrots, leeks and stout beer.<\/p>\n

Irish Beef Stew Ingredients<\/h2>\n

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