Cookbook:Irish Stew

Irish Stew
Irish Stew
Category	Stew recipes
Difficulty

Irish stew (Irish: stobhach gaelach) is a traditional Irish dish made from lamb or mutton as well as potatoes, onions and parsley. It originated in Ireland but appears in cookbooks all over Europe, including in Escoffier's Guide Culinaire. Although traditionally made with lamb or mutton, Irish stew was basically a cheap meal which was thrown together with left-overs and filled out with potatoes. Sometimes, lamb or mutton neckbones, shanks, and other trimmings were the only basis for the stock. Yet these would-be discards still held enough flavor after a long simmering process to do justice to a hearty bowl of stew. The root vegetables added further flavor and thickening power, as well as filling sustenance. Some cooks added turnips or parsnips, carrots, and barley when available.

When the Irish people began immigrating to the United States, they naturally brought along their food traditions. The stew evolved and adapted to include the local offerings. Sheep were not as plentiful, so other types of meat were often substituted. The recipe has evolved to often include Guinness stout and paprika. More recently, Irish stew has been made with cheap beef. Some variations have exalted this original peasant dish to near gourmet status.

Ingredients

2½ lb (1.1 kg) deboned mutton, cut in chunks
4 large potatoes, peeled and thickly sliced
2 large onions, thickly sliced
3–4 medium carrots, peeled and thickly sliced
1 sprig of parsley, chopped
2 cups (480 ml) water
Salt
Pepper

Procedure

Choose a pot with a well-fitting lid and put in the ingredients in layers, starting and finishing with potatoes. Pour in the water and season to taste.
Cover and put on a very low heat for about 2½ hours until the meat is tender and the potatoes have thickened the liquid.

Notes, tips, and variations

The dish may also be made with lamb, in which case it requires only 1½ hours cooking time.