St. Patrick's Day Feast: Guinness Beef Stew Recipe (2024)

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Written by Shaina Olmanson.

St. Patrick’s Day is just around the corner. Tomorrow, in fact. I’ve been cooking up a few Irish-inspired meals for the family to celebrate with stews, corned beef and plenty of potatoes. You’ll find no green beer here, but a pint of Guinness may be consumed by the of-age participants.

With Chicago dyeing the river green, parades and people dressed as leprechauns, it’s hard not to get swept up in the magic of St. Patrick’s Day and embark on a treasure hunt for that pot o’ gold at the end of the rainbow. It all begs the question: What is St. Patrick’s Day really?

St. Patrick's Day Feast: Guinness Beef Stew Recipe (1)Photos by Shaina

St. Patrick’s Day is a religious holiday in Ireland to honor the patron saint of Ireland, Saint Patrick, who served as a bishop in Ireland and sought to Christianize the pagans there. Did you know the reason the clover and the color green is worn and used in St. Patrick’s Day decor is because Saint Patrick would use it to explain the Holy Trinity?

Today, St. Patrick’s Day is often celebrated to show allegiance to Irish heritage more than for its religious significance. During the 1798 rebellion against British occupation, Irish rebels dressed in all green. It is under that same British control that Irish farmers were limited in land and needed to choose a crop that would give the most bang for their buck. Potatoes were then widely cultivated for their complete nutritional properties, which made them a staple in the Irish diet.

More Irish-Inspired Fare:

:: Corned Beef and Cabbage – thank the Irish-Americans for this classic.
:: Colcannon – mashed potatoes with kale, cabbage and cream.
:: Irish Soda Bread – dense brown bread made with whole wheat flour.
:: Leprechaun’s Rainbow Cookies – can you find the pot o’ gold at the end of the rainbow?
:: Beer Mug Cupcakes – no drinking required.
:: Shepherd’s Pie – mashed potatoes, beef and vegetables all in one.
:: Irish Brownie Bombs – Guinness brownies, Bailey’s cheesecake, Jameson clovers.

St. Patrick's Day Feast: Guinness Beef Stew Recipe (2)

St. Patrick's Day Feast: Guinness Beef Stew Recipe (3)

Guinness Beef Stew

This Irish beef stew is deep and rich with flavour and made with the Irish stout, Guinness. Serve it over a bed of colcannon or with a wedge of Irish soda bread to sop it up. This type of meat and potatoes meal is one I could get used to.

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Course: Soups & Stews

Prep Time: 15 minutes minutes

Cook Time: 2 hours hours

Total Time: 2 hours hours 15 minutes minutes

Servings: 8 people

Calories: 304kcal

Author: Shaina Olmanson

Ingredients

  • 3-5 Tablespoons canola oil
  • 1 teaspoon salt
  • 2 pounds stew beef like chuck roast, cut into 1-inch pieces
  • 1/3 cup flour
  • 3 cloves garlic minced
  • 1 large onion diced
  • 1 Tablespoon tomato paste
  • 4 cups beef stock or beef broth
  • 12 ounces Guinness
  • 2 prunes minced
  • 1 Tablespoon caraway seeds
  • 1 teaspoon fresh cracked black pepper
  • 1 1/2 cups carrots roughly chopped
  • 1 1/2 cups parsnips roughly chopped
  • 3 Tablespoons fresh flat-leaf parsley minced

Instructions

  • In a stockpot or Dutch oven, heat 3 tablespoons of the oil over medium-high heat. Salt the beef and dredge through the flour. Brown the beef chunks in the oil for 2-3 minutes, stirring to turn. Don't overcrowd the pot, and remove from the pot into a separate bowl when finished. Add the remaining oil as necessary.

  • Once the beef has been browned, add garlic to the oil and sauté for 30 seconds. Add in the onion and cook until tender, about 5 minutes. Stir in the tomato paste until incorporated throughout.

  • Add the beef back to the pot and pour in the beef stock and Guinness, then add in the prunes, caraway seeds and pepper. Bring to a boil. Cover, reduce heat and simmer for one hour.

  • After one hour, remove the cover from the pot and add in the carrots and parsnips. Continue simmering, uncovered for 30-45 minutes until vegetables are tender.

Notes

Serve alongside boiled potatoes or over colcannon. Sprinkle with chopped parsley before serving.

Nutrition

Calories: 304kcal | Carbohydrates: 18g | Protein: 29g | Fat: 11g | Saturated Fat: 2g | Cholesterol: 70mg | Sodium: 629mg | Potassium: 873mg | Fiber: 3g | Sugar: 5g | Vitamin A: 4185IU | Vitamin C: 10mg | Calcium: 62mg | Iron: 3.5mg

What do you do to celebrate St. Patrick’s Day? Have you baked up any Irish-themed goodies or done crafts with the kids?

St. Patrick's Day Feast: Guinness Beef Stew Recipe (4)

Shaina

Shaina Olmanson is the home cook and photographer behind Food for My Family, where she shares recipes, tips, opinions and her philosophy on food as she wades through the process of feeding her family, her friends and anyone else who will let her. She strives to teach her four children how to eat well: seasonally, locally, organically, deliciously and balanced.

St. Patrick's Day Feast: Guinness Beef Stew Recipe (2024)

FAQs

Why is my beef and 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 traditional Irish stew made of? ›

Irish stew is considered a national dish of Ireland. Irish stew is a celebrated Irish dish, yet its composition is a matter of dispute. Purists maintain that the only acceptable and traditional ingredients are neck mutton chops or kid, potatoes, onions, and water.

How do you thicken Guinness stew? ›

Beef cuts specifically used for slow cooking are best with this stew. For a thicker gravy, mix 1 heaping tablespoon of cornstarch (or corn flour) together with 2 tablespoons of water; add after baking in the oven while it's still bubbling.

How do you cut the bitterness out of beef stew? ›

Add sugar and/or ketchup to the stew to reduce the bitterness. Butter and salt also help to reduce the bitter taste. Perhaps the beef fat has been cooked too hot and too long. All animal fats, when cooked very hot and very long, start to taste non optimal.

What is the traditional meal eaten on St Patrick's Day? ›

We've all come to know and love the traditional Irish foods eaten on St. Patrick's Day. You know the menu: corned beef, cabbage and potatoes.

Do you thicken Irish stew? ›

The one thing I do differently to most Guinness Beef Stew recipes, including very traditional Irish recipes, is to thicken the sauce slightly with flour. If you don't do this step, the sauce is quite thin and watery, and while the flavour is still lovely, I really prefer the sauce to be more like a thin gravy.

What is Ireland's national dish? ›

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.

What is the best cut of beef for stew in Ireland? ›

1. BEEF: Look for Chuck from the top forequarter and round from the rump. Housekeeper's cut is also good for stewing.

What gave the Irish stew its fresh flavor? ›

What gave the Irish stew its fresh flavour? - Quora. Simply by using good quality meat and FRESH vegetables, not frozen. While making stew, the woman of the house would go out to the kitchen garden and cut or pull what she needed, rinse them in cold water, chop them up and add them to the pot.

What is a potato called in Irish? ›

The Irish language is very descriptive the common word for potato in Irish is práta (pl. prátaí), hence the origin of Praties for Potatoes, There are literally 50 Irish words and descriptive phrases relating to the potato.

Why is Irish stew so popular in Ireland? ›

Though the Romans had long outgrown it by then, stewing came to prominence in Ireland during the early 19th century, during a period of economic turmoil that led to mass poverty. With only a hanging pot, an open fire and a few fairly easily attainable ingredients, even poor families were able to survive on Irish stew.

What is the Irish vegetable? ›

Vegetables grown and eaten in Ireland included onions, chives, cabbage, celery, wild garlic and leeks.

Why does my Guinness taste bitter? ›

Isohumulones are the primary source of bitterness in Guinness and, generally speaking, in beers. The more humulone available during boiling, the more likely it is to isomerise and thus produce isohumulones.

Why does my beef taste bitter? ›

The black, greasy, and oily substance then adds a pungent flavor to the meat. While this is the most common reason your meat tastes bitter, there are other factors as well, such as using a dirty smoker. Brushing away any excess or old ash can help. In addition, check if the meat has not gone bad.

How to make Guinness gravy less bitter? ›

brown sugar.

Guinness is quite bitter, and even though the bitterness does mellow a little after the stew is cooked, I add a small amount of sugar just to balance the flavours. You can use soft light or dark brown sugar. Worcestershire sauce – that magic ingredient that adds amazing flavour to just about everything.

How do you get the gamey taste out of beef stew? ›

Caramelization is a great way of turning gamey into delicious. If that doesn't do it for you then turn up the seasonings. Even just more black pepper can do wonders.

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