Caitriona's Stew

Cold wintry weather has descended on us in the last two weeks so it’s time to bring out the stew pot.

Everyone needs to know how to make a good stew and the secret is to keep it simple.

Irish stew should be simply layers of trimmed neck of lamb and potatoes interspersed with onions, chopped herbs and salt and pepper and topped up with water and cooked for a few hours. Using a mix of floury and firm potatoes will thicken the stew and if you want carrots serve them on the side.

The main recipe this week is not my own. I have made dozens of different stews over the years, usually adding wine and other fancy ingredients but I have come to the conclusion that simple is best, and the rest of my family and friends agree that my wife’s stew cannot be beaten.

Caitríona’s Old Fashioned Stew
Ingredients: 1.5 kg Rib Steak (or Round Steak), 2 tbs Flour, 1 tsp Salt, Black Pepper, 2tbs Sunflower Oil, 5 medium Onions, 3 large Carrots, 3 large Parsnips, 10 medium Potatoes

Carefully trim as much fat from the meat as possible and cut into 1 inch cubes. Add the meat to a plastic bag followed by the flour, salt and pepper. Shake the bag well so that the meat is fully coated in the seasoned flour.

Heat the oil in a large casserole dish and once you see a hint of smoke, add the flour-coated meat and brown quickly, stirring occasionally to prevent the meat from sticking.

Peel the onions, chop into chunks and stir and brown in the casserole. Add water until the meat and onions are covered. Bring the water to a simmer, cover and leave to stew on very low heat for 1.5 hours.

Peel and top and tail the carrots and parsnips. Chop into chunks or strips of similar size and add to the dish. Wash and peel the potatoes, cut into large chunks and add to the dish. Add boiling water until the meat and veg. are fully covered. Simmer for a further 1.5 hours until the meat is tender and the veg are cooked. Check the seasoning after one hour and add more salt and pepper if necessary.

Serve in bowl with lots of juice and home made soda bread.