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Delicious traditional Irish Lamb stew recipe that is perfect to use at your St Patrick’s day celebrations.
Splash it up with a bit of Guinness for an extra Irish touch or add some red wine for a sophisticated flair. Slow cook this stew to perfection and serve for the whole family to enjoy.
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A stew is the perfect dish to serve on a winter day. It’s full of goodness, flavor and it’s super easy to make.
For us moms that have little time to be preparing meals, a soup is always a winner for an easy go to meal.
This particular Irish lamb stew would be the perfect meal to serve up for any celebrations or St Patricks Day dinner party. Whilst it is is easy to make, it is also perfect for making in large quantities if you are having several people over for a meal.
Let’s face it, catering for a dinner party is never going to be a stress free affair, so making things as simple as possible will make your life a lot easier in the long run. This stew will therefore be a lifesaver for just those situations.
Of course, if there will be a little bit extra consumption of whiskey and beer over St Patrick’s day, then this stew will be the perfect dish to fill up the tummy with goodness.
What Is Traditional Lamb Stew?
Unlike a lot of recipes that you will come across, traditional Irish lamb stew would not have had alcohol added to it.
Why you ask?
Well quite simply, lamb stew used to be a peasant’s dish. As such people certainly would not have “wasted” their alcohol in food.
Had a drink WITH the food yes, but not IN it.
Of course that doesn’t stop you from adding some lovely Guinness or red wine to the stew, but in it’s traditional terms it would not have been present.
Irish stew used to traditionally be made with mutton, but it is now more commonly made with lamb.
Mutton would have been used because of it’s age. It simply would have had no other use than for food. Remembering of course that stew was traditionally a peasant’s dish.
The ingredients are basic, and the recipe is incredibly easy. This makes it the perfect dish for a dinner party even if it isn’t St Patrick’s Day!
If you would like to try something a little different, you might decide to try this recipe with mutton instead of lamb.
What To Serve With Lamb Stew
The lamb stew by itself has all the components you need for an amazing meal. However if you would feel like something to go with it then one of the best accompaniments would be to try this beautiful freshly made crusty soda bread recipe.
Just imagine. Thick slices of crusty soda bread covered in butter dipped into a piping hot lamb stew. They are a match made in heaven.
Thinking what might make a good drink accompaniment?
Depending on your taste you could definitely go Guinness or a red wine here.
If choosing a red wine, one rich in tannins would work a treat. Think Cabernet or Merlot.
Can You Use Leg Lamb For Stew?
Finding the perfect cut of meat to use in your stew can be a little tricky when you are standing at the meat counter. Meat is meat right? No, not really.
The leg however can provide fantastic flavor for a stew. It provides tender meat which is rich in flavor.
If you are unsure what cut of lamb to use, this article will explain all the best lamb cuts for slow cooking. Have a read through to see which cut of lamb you would prefer to use in your stew.
What You’ll Need To Make Lamb Stew
A stew consists of very simple but delicious ingredients when all added together. For this simple lamb stew recipe I recommend the following;
- Lamb
- Potatoes
- Onion
- Leek
- Carrot
- Lamb Stock
- Cabbage
- Salt, Pepper and Rosemary
How To Make Lamb Stock
If you would like to go the extra mile and really make a lamb stew to impress, you might consider making your own lamb stock.
It can take a bit of time to do, but if you want to give it a go you can always do other things whilst waiting for the stock to simmer or make it ahead of time and freeze it.
Follow this lamb stock recipe if you would like to give it a go.
How To Make Easy Irish Lamb Stew
One of the great things about stews is that they can be made in ONE pot. Don’t you just love that?
The less clearing up the better as far as I’m concerned and a one pot meal is always a winner.
The following recipe will be enough to make a gorgeous Irish lamb stew for 4 people.
If you are holding a dinner party for St Patrick’s day, simply multiply the ingredients according to the number of guests you are expecting.
Irish Lamb Stew Recipe
Delicious traditional Irish Lamb stew recipe that is perfect to use at your St Patrick’s day celebrations. Splash it up with a bit of Guinness for an extra Irish touch or add some red wine for a sophisticated flair. Slow cook this stew to perfection and serve for the whole family to enjoy.
Ingredients
- 1lb/500g mutton or lamb cutlets (bone removed) cut into 2″/5cm chunk
- • 2lb/ 1 kg potatoes, peeled and cut into quarters
- • 1 cup/115g onion, roughly chopped
- • 1 cup/ 100g leeks, cleaned and finely sliced
- • 1 cup/170g carrots, roughly chopped
- • 1½ pints / 750 ml dark beef stock
- • 2 or 3 cabbage leaves, thinly sliced (optional)
- • Salt, Pepper and Rosemary
Instructions
- In a large frying pan heat half the oil and add half the lamb pieces. Once the lamb has browned, remove and place in a large saucepan. Cover with a half of the potatoes, onions, leeks and carrots.
- : Add the remaining oil to the frying pan, heat again then add the remaining lamb and brown all over. Add to the saucepan and cover with the remaining vegetables.
- : Add the stock, and cook for 1 hour. Add the cabbage (if using) and cook for another hour.
- : Check from time to time to make sure the stock isn’t reducing too much, if it is add a little boiling water. The meat and vegetables should always be covered by liquid. If the sauce is too runny at the end, cook a little longer with the lid removed.
- : Season with salt, pepper and rosemary, according to your taste. Serve with Rosemary as garnish.
With simple ingredients and a one pot meal deal, this is going to be the perfect dinner to serve for a St Patrick’s day celebration (or just for a hearty winter warmers meal).
This is the kind of meal that the whole family can enjoy.
Need more ideas for St Patrick’s day? Check out thebest easy and fun St Patrick’s day party ideas. You will have a ton of inspiration for different themes, food, decorations and more.
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