Description
Hearty Irish stew brings rustic comfort from Ireland’s culinary heart, simmering tender lamb with rich stout and earthy barley. Robust flavors and wholesome ingredients make this classic dish a soul-warming meal you’ll crave on chilly evenings.
Ingredients
Scale
Meat:
- 4 pounds (1.8 kg) lamb shoulder, cut into bite-sized cubes
Vegetables:
- 2 medium carrots, chopped into 1.5-inch pieces
- 24 pearl onions, peeled
- 12 new potatoes, halved
- 1/4 cup fresh parsley, minced (for garnish)
- 1 tablespoon fresh chives, finely chopped (for garnish)
Liquid and Seasoning:
- 2 cups dark beer (stout or porter)
- 3 cups chicken broth or water
- 1/4 cup olive oil
- 1.5 teaspoons sea salt
- 0.5 teaspoon freshly cracked black pepper
- 1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
- 0.5 cup dried barley pearls
- 1 dried bay leaf
- 1 tablespoon fresh thyme, finely chopped
- 0.5 teaspoon smoked paprika
Instructions
- Prepare a robust pot and heat olive oil at medium-high temperature until shimmering.
- Generously season lamb pieces with salt and pepper, then methodically sear each side until developing a rich, caramelized golden-brown exterior.
- Introduce pearl onions and carrots into the pot, gently sautéing for approximately 5 minutes to release their aromatic essence.
- Cascade dark stout beer and chicken broth into the pot, then incorporate Worcestershire sauce, pearl barley, and a single bay leaf.
- Elevate heat and bring the liquid to a vigorous boil, stirring occasionally to prevent ingredient settlement.
- Reduce flame to low, carefully fold in diced potatoes and fresh thyme sprigs, then seal with a tight-fitting lid.
- Allow the stew to gently simmer for 1.5 to 2 hours, periodically checking lamb’s tenderness and liquid consistency.
- Once meat reaches a melt-in-your-mouth texture, remove bay leaf and assess seasoning, adjusting with additional salt and pepper if required.
- Garnish with freshly chopped parsley and delicate chive ribbons, serving the stew piping hot in deep rustic bowls.
Notes
- Select high-quality lamb shoulder with good marbling for maximum tenderness and rich flavor during slow cooking.
- Swap lamb with beef chuck roast or use vegetable protein like seitan for a vegetarian version that maintains hearty texture.
- Toast barley briefly before adding liquid to enhance its nutty flavor and improve overall depth of the stew’s taste profile.
- Choose a robust stout like Guinness for authentic Irish character, but lighter beer works if stout feels too intense for personal preference.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 2 hours
- Category: Dinner, Lunch
- Method: Simmering
- Cuisine: Irish
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 6
- Calories: 450
- Sugar: 3 g
- Sodium: 700 mg
- Fat: 20 g
- Saturated Fat: 4 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 16 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 34 g
- Fiber: 5 g
- Protein: 30 g
- Cholesterol: 90 mg