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Hearty Guinness Beef Stew with Easy Soda Bread Dumplings

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A rich and comforting Irish-inspired beef stew simmered in Guinness stout, served with light and fluffy soda bread dumplings that soak up the flavorful gravy.

Ingredients

Scale
  • 2 lbs beef chuck, cut into 1.5-inch cubes
  • Salt and freshly ground black pepper, to season
  • 3 tbsp vegetable oil or beef drippings
  • 1 large onion, finely chopped
  • 3 cloves garlic, minced
  • 3 medium carrots, peeled and sliced into thick rounds
  • 2 stalks celery, sliced
  • 2 tbsp tomato paste
  • 1 tbsp Worcestershire sauce
  • 1 bottle (11.2 oz/330ml) Guinness stout beer
  • 2 cups (16 fl oz) beef broth, preferably low sodium
  • 2 bay leaves
  • 3 sprigs fresh thyme or 1 tsp dried thyme
  • 2 tbsp all-purpose flour
  • For the Soda Bread Dumplings:
  • 1 cup (120g) all-purpose flour
  • 1 tsp baking soda
  • 1/4 tsp salt
  • 1/2 cup (4 fl oz) buttermilk or milk + 1 tsp vinegar
  • 2 tbsp unsalted butter, melted
  • Optional: 1 tbsp chopped fresh parsley or chives

Instructions

  1. Pat the beef cubes dry with paper towels and season generously with salt and pepper. Chop onion, carrots, celery, and mince garlic. Preheat oven to 325°F if finishing stew in oven.
  2. Heat 2 tablespoons vegetable oil in Dutch oven over medium-high heat. Brown beef in batches, about 3-4 minutes per batch. Transfer beef to plate.
  3. Lower heat to medium. Add onions, carrots, and celery to pot. Cook 5-7 minutes until softened and lightly golden. Stir in garlic and cook 1 minute until fragrant.
  4. Stir in tomato paste and sprinkle flour over veggies. Cook 2 minutes to remove raw flour taste.
  5. Pour in Guinness slowly, scraping browned bits from bottom. Add beef broth, Worcestershire sauce, bay leaves, and thyme. Return beef and juices to pot and stir.
  6. Bring stew to gentle simmer, cover with lid. Simmer on stovetop over low heat or in oven at 325°F for 1.5 to 2 hours until beef is fork-tender.
  7. While stew cooks, whisk flour, baking soda, and salt in bowl. Add buttermilk and melted butter, mix gently to form soft dough. Fold in herbs if using. Do not overmix.
  8. Remove bay leaves and thyme sprigs from stew. Drop tablespoon-sized dumplings over stew surface. Cover and simmer gently for 15-20 minutes until dumplings are puffed and cooked through. Avoid lifting lid.
  9. Taste stew and adjust seasoning with salt and pepper. Optionally whisk in 1 tablespoon cold butter off heat for glossy finish. Serve hot with dumplings.

Notes

Pat beef dry before searing to get a good crust. Simmer gently to keep beef tender and dumplings light. Add dumplings only after stew is fully cooked. Avoid lifting lid while dumplings cook to keep them fluffy. Use good-quality Guinness for best flavor. For gluten-free, substitute flours and use gluten-free beer or broth with balsamic vinegar.

Nutrition

Keywords: Guinness beef stew, soda bread dumplings, Irish stew, comfort food, slow-cooked beef, hearty stew, easy dumplings

Find it online: https://yumnode.com/hearty-guinness-beef-stew-with-easy-soda-bread-dumplings-recipe/