In the lead up to St. Patrick’s Day we continue with out Irish theme and bring you the rich Guinness Irish Stew:

Irish Stew with Guinness

Ingredients

• 2 tbsp olive oil
• 3 bay leaves
• 2 lbs beef stew meat, cut into 1 1/2 inch to 2 inch cubes (with some fat)
• 1 large brown onion, peeled and cut into 1/4 inch slices
• 2 cloves garlic, peeled and chopped
• 1 tsp dried thyme, whole
• 1 tsp dried rosemary
• 2-3 tbsp all-purpose flour
• 3/4 cup beef stock
• 1/2 cup Guinness stout
• 1 tbsp chopped parsley
• 1/2 lb carrots, sliced
• salt & pepper to taste

Method

1. Heat a large pan and add the oil and the bay leaves. Cook the bay leaves for a moment and then add the meat.
2. Brown the meat on both sides on high heat. Add the sliced onion and cook for a few minutes until it is translucent.
3. Reduce the heat to low and add the garlic, thyme, rosemary and flour, and stir well until smooth.
4. Add the beef stock and stout; simmer, stirring, until the stew thickens a bit. Add the remaining ingredients and cover.
5. Pou into a casserole dish and place in a 275°F oven for about 2 hours, stirring a couple of times. Season with salt and pepper before serving.

Serves 4-6