Irish stew (made with minced beef)
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Sent in by Lorraine from Winchester
Traditional Irish stew is made with lamb or mutton, but if you prefer you can use beef...
Photo: Well Worn Whisk
- Prep Time 15 mins
- Cook Time 1 hr
- Serves 6
- Difficulty Level Easy
Preparation
- Total Time 1 hr 15 mins
- Preparation Time 15 mins
- Cooking Time 1 hr
- 500g potatoes
- 400g carrots, chopped
- onion, chopped
- 800g beef mince
- 1l beef stock
- 1 tsp fresh or dried thyme or rosemary
- black pepper
- Peel and chop potatoes (not too small), peel and slice carrots, chop onion finely, and place all ingredients in saucepan (I normally use an 8 litre pan but any large saucepan will do - or split between 2 average sized pans)
- Brown the mince (in its own juices) and drain off fat
- Place mince on top of vegetables in saucepan, add black pepper (to taste) and herbs and cover all ingredients with hot stock
- Put pan on a medium-high heat - bring to the boil, stirring ingredients well
- Reduce heat so ingredients are simmering
- Let stew simmer for approximately 1 hour, checking occasionally to make sure ingredients are just covered with stock (add more if necessary)
- Serve with cabbage or on its own
You will need
Large saucepan – this large aluminium pot is ideal for cooking stews and casseroles – see more details here at Amazon.
Chopping board – a must for protecting work surfaces whilst you chop and prepare meals – see more details here at Wilko.
Tips
This recipe uses mince but you can use lamb chunks instead if you prefer. Cook on the hob or in a slow cooker.
Variations
- For a more traditional Irish stew, use chunks of lamb instead of the mince (neck or lamb chops work well) - cook for 1.5-2 hours on a low heat
- Slow cooker method: Add all ingredients to the slow cooker and add just enough stock to cover the meat - cook on Low for 8-10 hours, thicken stock with some gravy powder/granules if needed
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Reviews
★ ★ ★ ★ ★★ 2 ratingsRate this recipe
Sasha-rose F
★ ★ ★ ★ ★ 4
Personally, I loved this. My son wasn't so keen. This is the kind of food I was brought up on (budgets were tight) and I think perhaps my son has just been spoilt, Really easy to make and very filling.
Guest
★ ★ ★ ★ ★ 5
You've got to love a hearty warming stew this time of year.
Guest
I added some cabbage for the last ten mins of cooking and it was lovely.
Guest
Irish stew is diced lamb not mince! I make it with lamb as did my mum as did her mum before her etc.. i have never heard of it being made with beef mince.
caroline a(6)
Irish stew is not made with mince it is usually made with chopped pieces of lamb so you could also swap mince for lamb pieces.
Guest
Do not make in slow cooker it does not taste the same as in the pot also do not fry your mince.Here,s the right way to make it lol.Get a large pot of boiling salted water dice a large piece of either stewing steak or braising steak into 1inch cubes along with a large onion and 2 carrots no celery.Cook for 30mins then add 1 1/2bl beef mince rolled into small balls as if making meatballs make sure there small.cook for another 30mins add a knorr beef stock pot and 2 oxo.s chop potatoes very small add to pot fill with potatoes to near over flowing as the potatoes will soften and you don,t want a pot of soup.Mix the whole lot together well.Let cook until potatoes are soft and steak is tender you can also add bisto gravy granuals if you need to thicken .Serve with crusty bread as we do in Belfast Enjoy.
Guest
i am always making this. The kids love it.
Guest
My MIL is irish and in hers she adds Barley, Sausages & Chunks of beef, also she uses Oxtails soup (the powdered packets, just made up with cold water to your preferred thickness) as the stock. Yum and great on cold winter nights
Guest
Made this yesterday and everyone enjoyed it :) was lovely
Guest
did this last night and my husband said it took him back to his youth, back home in N.I....consequently....fantastic result and first time I have cooked a stew...thank you!!!!
Guest
yes, Irish stew recipes for beef, are quite simple, and fits in our budget
Guest
I've made this a few times now and the last time (after reading the comments that traditionally its made with lamb), I still used beef mince but used lamb stock instead of beef stock. This made it a lot tastier! I will continue to make it like this as its very economical.
Guest
That sounds great but it shouldn't be called Irish Stew? It's more like savoury mince. Stew is made with chunks of meat. (and Guinness in ours!) ;o)
Guest
For a cheaper version I use less mince.. I use 400 grams when feeding 2 adults and 3 kids and no stock. The meat is enough to season. I also bulk it up with some root veg like swede. And add some cumin powder and a pinch of red chili for more flavour. We love irish stew and it is one of the few things even my son will eat and he is very picky.
Guest
QUICK SHEPHERD PIE 1 TIN MINCED BEEF-- 1 OXO 1 SPOON TOMATO SAUCE- 1 PKT OF INSTANT MASH --LITTLE BUTTER--GRATE CHEESE ON TOP ---LOVELY
Guest
Made this in the slow cooker today for me, hubby and 4 children, i just fried the onions and mince a little first then just put all ingredients in the slow cooker, left it on low all day and then served it with crusty bread it cooked beautifuly and it was so easy to prepare, everyone enjoyed and had seconds! really economical too for those on a budget:) will certainly make it again! xx
Guest
I served this up today for dinner. Perfect for a cold cold day. Everyone enjoyed the stew - everyone had second helpings. Delicious. I used cheap diced pork - it worked brilliantly. I will cook it again and again with different cuts of meat.
Guest
I'm from N.Ireland and the first cold day of the winter you will always smell stew in my house! I use good quality minced lamb but minced beef is good too. The freezer will be half full of it all winter. Nothing comforts and warms like a good Irish Stew! (Not quite the traditional stew I agree, but times and tastes change and I think this suits kids better).
Guest
I'm from N.Ireland and the first cold day of the winter you will always smell stew in my house! I use good quality minced lamb but minced beef is good too. The freezer will be half full of it all winter. Nothing comforts and warms like a good Irish Stew!
Guest
Loved it! Used beef cuts instead of mince as not a fan. But overall very easy and really delicious! Thanks
Guest
Very nice, cheap and easy - I must have used too much stock as found it too watery so thickened it with cornflour. I used plenty of ground black pepper too - got loads left over even though hubby went back for seconds!
Guest
I might also add that in a traditional Derry stew, the mince is rolled into meatballs. Jim
Guest
Hi, I am from Derry and can confirm that this is a traditional Derry stew, normally made with Doherty's Special Mince which is very popular up here. We were all raised on that stew, lovely stuff! Still make it for my kids and they love it. Jim
Guest
Hi, Made this gorgeous recipe for hubby, 4 kids ranging in age from 2-10 years and myself this eve - everyone loved it and cleared their plates! easy to make, easy to eat and full of goodness! Budget friendly also as using mince helps a little go a long way and keeps costs down! it fed us all and some left over. Will be making again very soon:) xx
Guest
My mum always used Pork Pieces in her stew and i would use them myself, i find it alot nicer than the mince or steak pieces.
Guest
That's how I always Make Stew... But that's not Irish Stew,it's Scouse! =) Irish stew is Lamb Chunks =)
Guest
Hi. 'Floury potatoes' refers to the type/variety of potato - those that are soft and break up easily when cooked such as King Edward or Maris Piper potatoes. Good question though so thanks for asking - and I've updated the recipe to make it a bit clearer. Lucy (Netmums Foodie Team)
Guest
Hi, when you say floury potatoes do you mean coated in plain flour? Sorry if I am being thick!
kerri m(7)
I live in Northern Ireland and my dad made Irish stew every fortnight with lamb pieces. But, as a variation of it, especially for kids it is lovely with mince too, and yes its still called Irish stew, ive even seen it served in cafes and restaurants as Irish stew but with mince, it may not be the original Irish stew, but a simpler one for kids. Who cares what its called, its still lovely all the same.
Guest
thanks for receipe livin in england now and love stew will give me a taste from home and save some for my 7 month old daughter we can enjoy home cooked food together :)
Guest
i'm northern irish and yes i hav used this receipe many times with the mince. orig is with lamb but i find with small children they prefer mince its easy for them to eat. does it matter mince or lamb. :-) enjoy nothing beats a big bowl of stew on a cold nite.
Guest
i am irish and i have never had an irish stew made on mince. this is not an authentic irish dish, it should be called mince stew.
Guest
I married into an Irish family and my mother-in-law who was from Wexford made this Irish stew. Unfortunately she passed away some 18 months ago and I had no idea how she made this stew until I saw this recipe. Well needless to say I made it and my husband was estactic as it WAS the same as my mother in law used to make for us. I have made this 3 times now and he still cant get enough!!!! THANK YOU so much for posting this recipe.
Guest
Yum, l grew up on this Irish stew as a kid and have alwasy made it with mince. My family is from the North too.
Guest
Maybe should be re-titled Derry Stew then!
Guest
im from antrim northern ireland and this is pretty close to how i make stew,its a reciepe my mum taught me and shes originally from derry. my kids and husband absolutley love it but prefer me to use steak pieces rather than mince.
Guest
I too am Irish and have never EVER seen an Irish stew recepie that had mince in it! It sounds more like a sheperds pie recepie to me. Can't vouch for how it tastes though as I haven't tried it, but it doesn't sound right to me. Perhaps if it had another name I might be inclined to try it.
Guest
I made it; it tastes delicious. My son loved it!
Guest
Gonna try this one tomorrow.
Guest
Absolutly loved this recipe. so did the kids, i couldnt beleive it.
Guest
I'm pretty sure I followed the recipe correctly and it was a real disappointment. Yuck! Maybe I should have used a more flavoursome stock (I used an organic low salt one), even so it was not even vaguly nice! Sorry
Guest
Had this last night..the whole family loved it!!!
Guest
HI tried this receipe and it was lovely. But, a small point to make irish stew is made with mutton (or lamb) not beef. Very tasty though.
Guest
So its not an authentic irish stew but it sounds just like what we call the Derry stew - where we use a local brand of minced meat called Doherty's mince and its delicious and easy! My English husband can't get enough of it!
Guest
I agree it does sound tssty but I'm Irish and its not Irish stew as I know it. Elizabeth
Guest
This sounds very tasty, but it is not Irish Stew! Irish Stew is made with neck of lamb or lamb chops not beef!
Guest
This is absolutely delicious!! Thankyou!! I added dumplings last time and tonight i'm doing it without potatoes but adding parsnips instead cos i want mash, really tasty, yummy, cannot wait!!
Guest
I made this today and it was delicious! My husband is a fussy eater and he luved it too, my lo is 14 months and he had a massive bowl full :-) I will definately make it again!
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