Guinness Beer Stew

My Irish Stew

As a “wanted-to-be” housewife, but had to work outside the home, and mother I strived to create home cooked for my family just because I felt better about the nutrition. (And cleanliness! One of my first jobs was a restaurant health inspector.) And let’s face it, there’s nothing like a cozy warm delicious home cooked meal. Working leaves little time for preparing meals if you’re spread thin which is certainly what I was as a single mom. I appreciate those who create time involved difficult dishes but I’m not totally convinced the taste is always better.

So, for St. Patrick’s Day I’m simply converting my oven braised stew to my Irish Stew.

Here are the ingredients:

2 Pounds of stew meat
2-3 Tablespoons olive oil
1/3 Cup all purpose flour
1 Large onion-cut into eighths
4 Cloves garlic-peeled and crushed
12 Medium carrots-peeled (add parsnips in place of half the carrots-optional)
8 Small white potatoes-peeled
1 Cup or big slug of Guinness Beer
2 Teaspoons worcestershire sauce
2 Cups water or 4 cups if no broth is used
2 Cups broth, vegetable or beef (optional)
Salt and pepper to taste

Follow the cooking directions for the Braised Beef Stew here except eliminate the mushrooms and add the garlic with the onions. And most importantly substitute the Guinness for the wine!

All my life I was under the impression I was of Irish and Portuguese heritage and a little of this-n-that thrown in. Well, I’m not Irish but I do appreciate St. Patricks Day just as much now as I did. Celebrate and give this deliciously easy recipe a try!