Why is my beef Guinness stew bitter?

Stouts, like Guinness, are known for their bitterness . If the stew is cooked too quickly or if it doesn't include ingredients to balance the bitterness, this flavor can be very pronounced.

What is the difference between beef stew and Irish stew?

The main difference between an Irish stew and classic beef stew comes down to the protein. Traditional Irish stew is usually made with lamb, while beef stew is always made with beef . Our version includes beef chuck, which is less traditional, but easy to make and equally delicious.

What is a good substitute for Guinness stew?

And none of this is to dismiss the notion of Guinness stew, which is delicious. But one could use any type of malty beer such as a porter, a different type of stout, or even a milder type of ale in chili – anything that works with the bolder flavor of beef. Some recipes for Irish stew call for red wine instead.

What does Guinness do to meat?

Guinness Stout or Extra Stout produces a dark, rich, flavorful sauce for your marinade that is also an effective meat tenderizer .

What is Irish Guinness made of?

Guinness is created using four key ingredients – roasted barley, malted barley, hops, yeast and water and doesn't contain caffeine. Does Guinness have dairy? Guinness is created using four key ingredients – roasted barley, malted barley, hops, yeast and water making Guinness dairy-free.

What is the national dish in Ireland?

Irish Stew is a thick, hearty dish of mutton, potatoes, and onions and undisputedly the national dish of Ireland. Within the dish are many of the ingredients synonymous with the island, potatoes being one of the most recognized.

Why do Irish people eat Irish stew?

The origins of Irish stew are somewhat shrouded in mystery, but it's believed to have originated in the 17th or 18th century. At that time, the dish was often made by shepherds and rural farmers who had access to only a few ingredients but needed a nourishing meal to sustain them through long days of work .

What are 2 names for Irish Stew?

Irish dishes English name Irish name Gur cake Cáca gur Irish stew Stobhach/ Stobhach Gaelach Jambon Siamban Limerick Ham Liamhás Luimnigh 32 more rows

Why does canned Guinness taste different?

The nitrogen filled ball gives Guinness Draught in cans the taste and texture of a pub-poured pint at home.

Can kids eat Guinness stew?

It's rich in collagen, high in protein and iron and a good source of Vitamin B12. You can't get a more comforting dish than this stew. 350g portion is appropriate for a healthy & active adult with a good appetite or two young kids to share .

Can kids eat steak and Guinness pie?

If you cook with alcohol there will always be a small amount left unless you turn the food totally dry, but a tiny amount won't hurt a child . I gave mine steak and ale pie without even thinking about the ale bit. Rest assured that they weren't rolling around the floor drunk afterwards.

Why is it no longer called crack pie?

Name change Some food writers and others have criticized naming foods including Crack Pie after addictive substances as insensitive and offensive. In May 2019, Devra First of the Boston Globe criticized the name in a column for making light of addiction by alluding to the addictiveness of crack cocaine.

Why do Scottish people eat steak pie?

Quite when the people of Scotland started eating Steak Pie for New Year day dinner, isn't entirely known, though one of the most popular theories is that it's due to the fact that people were far too busy to make a big meal on New Years day as they still had to work , and going to the butcher for a Steak pie was easy to ...

Irish Beef and Guinness Pie Recipe (2024)

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Irish Beef and Guinness Pie is a rich and hearty savory pie made with beef, onions, carrots and Guinness Stout. The filling develops a velvety rich gravy as it simmers on the stove. Puff pastry caps the ramekins for a flaky topping. Serve with some tatties and a pint of Guinness for a complete, traditional Irish meal. What is your favorite Irish recipe?

Want to go to Ireland? Check out my guide for Planning a Trip to Ireland.

Learn more about what you will find in an Irish Pantry.

Why I Love This Recipe

Recently I had the immense pleasure of visiting a lush, green country full of castles, 700 year old churches, medieval villages and some of the kindest people I have ever met. This intro could have easily described Italy but this time, I was in Ireland.

My travel buddy Janet and I landed in Dublin where we stayed at Jacobs Inn, a modern hostel in an old building. You have the choice of staying in a multiple pod bay or reserving a private double room with en-suite bathroom. We chose the latter and still saved money over a hotel.

Dublin can be an expensive city and staying at Jacobs Inn or nearby Molloy’s Pub is a great solution where you can mingle with the locals as well as immerse yourselves with like-minded travelers from all around the World.

I have many fond memories of Dublin including my first Beef and Guinness Pie. We ended up enjoying a few of these during our trip, we very much enjoyed them. Our first pie was at Molloy’s Pub a few doors down from Jacob’s Inn. A flaky biscuit topped a meat filled ramekin. The richness of the gravy and the super tender beef was perfectly balanced by that biscuit. It was served with ‘chips’ which we know as fries.

What You Will Need to Make Beef and Guinness Pie

Beef – Any type of marbled beef will work well. I found a nice 2 lb beef roast that had a lot of marbling.
Butter & Flour – Just a wee bit. Makes for a nice, thick gravy with the stout.
Smoked Bacon – I always go for the thick cut but any type of smoked bacon will do nicely.
Onion & Carrots – I used red onion but any type will do.
Sweet Things – Some people use just plain sugar to counter the bitterness of the stout but I used a wee bit of brown sugar and craisins. Raisins would also do nicely.
Guinness Stout – This makes a rich, velvety gravy with the beef juices.
Egg & Pastry – I used a store-bought puff pastry to try to replicate that beautiful biscuit at the pub. I think a flaky biscuit would work well too. Originally this pie was probably made with short crust pastry, the type you would use for apple pie. The egg is just to make the pastry shiny.

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Beef and Guinness Pie Filling

This is where you can actually get creative. Traditionally the filling would be whatever the cook has in their garden. Root vegetables would be common due to Ireland and Scotland’s rainy and cloudy climate. The root veggies include potatoes, carrots, onions. parsnips and turnips or rutabagas.

You can make this vegetarian or vegan by substituting the beef for your favorite protein hacks such as TVP, tempeh, seitan, lentils and beans or go total veggie with mushrooms.

You can also just plus up the veggies that don’t grow well in these areas such as tomatoes and peppers.

Changing the profile wouldn’t be too difficult if you wanted to go Ireland meets Texas kind of situation where the filling includes brisket, BBQ sauce, onions, peppers and a Shiner Beer or Deep Ellum Beer. Don’t go bragging about this copycat variation in Dublin though, they are loud and proud.

What to Serve with Beef and Guinness Pie

This is a very rich and meat intense entree, a nice potato side is a delicious way to sop up the extra gravy. Old fashioned mash potatoes are always a winner. My favorite way of adding some tang to mashed potatoes is to add sour cream.

I always like oven-roasted potatoes as a side and with this meaty Irish pie, it’s just perfect. Batata Harra is a Lebanese-style twice cooked potato where the potatoes are first baked then fried in a skillet with spices and aromatics.

If you want to go American old school, a bonny baked potato will also do nicely. Or you could keep it all Irish and serve with some crusty Irish Soda bread.

How to Make Beef and Guinness Pie

Tips For Making the Best Beef and Guinness Pie

Be sure to simmer the filling at least three hours. This will help the beef tenderize and the gravy will thicken nicely.
Brush beaten egg on your pastry to help it develop a pretty golden and shiny crust.
Keep a close eye on the pastry when you put it in the oven to make sure it doesn’t burn.
Cut your meat and chop your carrots into bite size pieces.
If you aren’t going serve the whole recipe at once, save the filling in the fridge and bake in the ramekins with the pastry when you are ready to serve. This way the pastry will be freshly hot and not soggy.

May the road rise up to meet you.
May the wind always be at your back.
May the sun shine warm upon your face,
and rains fall soft upon your fields.
And until we meet again,
May God hold you in the palm of His hand
– Irish Blessing

DO YOU LOVE IRISH RECIPES? – Check out this post on Traditional Irish Recipes for more Irish goodness.

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