Traditional Irish Lamb Stew Recipe | What's Cooking America (2024)

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Prep Time

3 hrs

Cook Time

2 hrs

Slow Cooker:

8 hrs

Author: What's Cooking America

• 2poundslambleg or neck meat (save the bones to add to the stew for flavoring), trimmed of excess fat and cut into 1-inch cubes
• Coarse saltand freshly-ground black pepper
• 2tablespoonsolive oil
• 2largeonions,chopped in large chunks
• 1 to 2garliccloves, minced
• 1(12-ounce) bottledark stout beer,divided
• 1teaspoonchicken bouillon granules
• 5 to 6largered potatoesor Yukon Gold potatoes, sliced into 1-inch cubes*
• 2 to 3largecarrots,peeled and sliced into 1-inch chunks
• 2largeleeks,chopped into 1/2-inch slices
• 1turnip,chopped into 1-inch chunks
• 3 to 4sprigs of freshthymeor 1 tablespoon dried thyme
• 1 to 2bay leaves
• 1(32-ounce) container ofchicken stock(store bought or homemade)
• 1/4cup freshparsely,finely chopped

2. In a large 6-quart Dutch oven over medium-high heat, add olive oil and let heat for a couple minutes.

3. While oil is heating, use a paper towel to pat dry the lamb chunks (moist meat will not brown, so this is an important step). Sprinkle the lamb with salt and pepper. Cook the lamb and bones in small batches in the Dutch oven(over-crowding meat while cooking, will prevent from browning)for a few minutes on each side, until meat is browned. Remove cooked lamb and bones, set aside to use later.

4. Add onions and garlic to Dutch oven and saute for a few minutes until onions appear translucent; remove onions and set aside. Pour in 1 cup of stout beer and bring just to a boil. Use a spatula to scrape up the bits of leftover meat and onions stuck to the bottom of the pan.

6. 
   Stove Top Method:

7. In the Dutch oven, deglazed with the beer. Add a layer of lamb meat (including bones) and onion mixture. Next, add a layer of potatoes and top potatoes with layer of carrots, leeks, and turnips. Sprinkle with salt and pepper.

8. Add a second layer of lamb, then onion mixture and finish with carrots, leeks, and turnips on top. Sprinkle again with salt and pepper and then add thyme and bay leaves on top. Pour in the rest of the bottle of stout beer and enough chicken stock to just cover the lamb and vegetables. Bring just to a boil, turn heat down to medium low, cover with lid (leave small gap for steam to escape) and let simmer for 2 hours.

9. *If you prefer firmer vegetables, then add to the last hour of cooking.

11. 
    After the 1st hour, gently stir the stew, cover with lid, and finish cooking for last hour or until meat is fall-apart tender.

12. Salt and pepper to taste. Serve in bowls and garnish with fresh chopped parsley. As an option you can also garnish with a sprinkling of sliced leeks.

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15. Oven Method:

16. Preheat oven to 325 degrees F. before prepping stew and browning meat.

17. In the Dutch oven, deglaze with the beer. Add a layer of lamb meat (including bones) and onion mixture. Next, add a layer of potatoes and top potatoes with layer of carrots, leeks, and turnips. Sprinkle with salt and pepper.

18. Add a second layer of lamb, then onion mixture and finish with carrots, leeks, and turnips on top. Sprinkle again with salt and pepper and add thyme and bay leaves on top. Pour in the remaining of the bottle of stout beer and enough chicken stock to just cover the lamb and vegetables. Cover tightly with lid and place in oven to bake for 2 hours.

19. After the 1st hour, open the oven, gently stir the stew, cover with lid, close the oven, and finish cooking for the last hour until the meat is fall apart tender.

20. Remove from the oven and salt and pepper to taste.

21. Serve in bowls and garnish with fresh chopped parsley. As an option you can also garnish with a sprinkling of sliced leeks.

24. Slow Cooker Method:

25. Preheat slow cooker, on high heat, before starting prep work and browning meat.

26. Pour the beer with deglazed bits from bottom of Dutch oven into the slow cooker. Add a layer of lamb meat (including bones) and onion mixture. Next, add a layer of potatoes and top potatoes with layer of carrots, leeks, and turnips. Sprinkle with salt and pepper.

27. Add a second layer of lamb, then onion mixture, and finish with carrots, leeks, and turnips on top. Sprinkle again with salt and pepper and add thyme and bay leaves on top. Pour in the rest of the bottle of stout beer and enough chicken stock to just cover the lamb and vegetables. Cover with lid and cook on high heat for 4 to 5 hours or low heat for 8 to 10 hours or until the meat if all apart tender.

28. Salt and pepper to taste, serve in bowls and garnish with fresh chopped parsley. As an option you can also garnish with a sprinkling of sliced leeks.

29. Excellent accompanied withIrish Soda Bread, and a glass of stout beer.

30. Serves 6 to 8.

33. Instant Pot Pressure Cooker Method:

34. Follow initial preparation instructions at the top of the recipe, instead of browning in Dutch oven, the Instant Pot can be used instead. Press theSautebutton, then theAdjustbutton to set to"More"heat. when the Instant Pot registers"Hot", then it's ready to add the olive oil and seasoned lamb meat and bones to brown. When the lamb is browned, remove meat and set aside. Next add the onions and saute for a few minutes until the onions are softened. Then add the garlic and chicken bouillon granules and stir together and saute for about 30 seconds until you start to smell the garlic aroma. Pour in 1 cup of stout beer and stir in with the onion mixture and scrape up any stuck bits from the bottom of the pot. Let the mixture start to come to a boil then press theKeep Warm/Cancelbutton to turn off the heat.

35. Add a layer of lamb meat (including bones) then a layer of onion mixture on top of the lamb. Sprinkle with salt and pepper. Add a second layer of lamb, then onion mixture. Sprinkle again with salt and pepper and add thyme and bay leaves on top. Pour in the rest of the bottle of stout beer and enough chicken stock to just cover the lamb and onion mixture.

36. Cover with lid and close to seal the lid. Make sure the pressure valve is closed. Press theManualbutton withhigh pressuresetting. Set the cooking time for 30 minutes. When the cooking time has completed, allow tonatural pressure releasefor 15-20 minutes. You can then open the pressure valve to finish releasing the remaining pressure until the pin drops.

38. *Tip- Once the vegetables are added and cooked for additional time, the lamb meat will end up withfall apart tender results. If you prefer to cook lamb longer, cook the meat for an additional 5 minutes, high pressure with a natural pressure release before movingon to adding the vegetables to cook.

39. Remove the lid and add in the potatoes, carrots, leeks and turnips. Stir into the lamb mixture.Cover with lid and close to seal the lid. Make sure the pressure valve is closed. Press theManualbutton withhigh pressuresetting. Set the cooking time for 10 minutes. When the cooking time has completed,quick releasethe pressure until the pin drops.

40. Open the lid and salt and pepper to taste, serve in bowls and garnish with fresh chopped parsley. As an option you can also garnish with a sprinkling of sliced leeks.

41. Excellent accompanied withIrish Soda Bread, and a glass of stout beer.

42. Serves 6 to 8.

Additional St. Patrick’s Day Recipes:

Corned Beef Bubble and SqueakBubble and Squeak is a traditional Monday lunch in England to take the leftover potatoes and vegetables from Sunday supper and fry it up to enjoy for lunch the next day. The odd name is said to come from the noises made while cooking it.

Guinness Beef Stew – Irish Beef StewMost every pub you visit in Ireland will offer Beef and Guinness Stew on the menu. Stewing the beef in Guinness stout beer tenderizes the beef and adds a robust, malty flavor to the stew.

Irish Lamb StewTraditionally Irish lamb stew is cooked with lamb meat (neck bones or shanks) and root vegetables such as potatoes and onions with water. The stew is cooked over low heat until the meat is fall apart tender.

Dublin Coddle
A favorite Dublin dish of potatoes, onions, bacon rashers and pork sausages slow cooked together for the ultimate comfort meal.

Irish Soda BreadHere’s a wonderful traditional Irish Soda bread recipe that can be found in homes and markets all over Ireland. In the United States, Irish Soda bread is popular to accompany Corned Beef and Cabbage when celebrating Saint Patrick’s Day.

Corned Beef and CabbageMy family and I look forward to enjoying corned beef and cabbage dinner as part of celebrating Saint Patrick’s Day every year. This is a great no-fuss meal to serve on Saint Patrick’s Day or any day that you desire.

Irish Sausage RollsIn Ireland, sausage rolls are very popular. You can find them served at pubs, at home parties, and can even be purchased ready made at bakeries.

Guinness Chocolate Cake
A moist rich chocolate cake with wonderful malty notes from the addition of Guinness stout beer.

Guinness Black Bottomed Cupcakes
Enjoy this twist on traditional black bottom cupcakes using Guinness Chocolate Cake and an Irish cream cheese filling