Celebrate St. Patrick's Day with a delicious Irish Stew and freshly baked soda bread!
St. Patrick's Day is just around the corner!
Whether you have Irish roots or just enjoy good food and a good party, this day is the perfect opportunity to enjoy authentic Irish flavors.
And what could be more Irish than a tasty Irish Stew, slow cooked with Guinness, and some crispy, freshly baked soda bread?
Our ambassador Boyke ten Broeke aka The Hungry Dutchman is sharing his favorite Irish stew and soda bread recipe with you today!
Want to know more about The Hungry Dutchman? Check out his website for fun, creative recipes and more!
The magic of Irish Stew
Irish Stew is the ultimate comfort food: a hearty stew packed with tender pieces of meat, winter vegetables, and a rich, spicy broth.
The secret? A delicious recipe, fantastic ingredients, and patience! This dish is slow-cooked with a splash of Guinness, which creates a deep, full flavor.
Did you know? Irish stew is traditionally made with lamb, but many variations also use beef.
It is a dish that has been eaten in Ireland for centuries, originally invented by farmers using simple ingredients that were available.
Soda Bread: The Perfect Side Dish
No Irish Stew without a delicious piece Soda bread ! This traditional bread isn't made with yeast, but with baking soda and buttermilk.
It's super easy to bake and ready in under an hour. The result? A deliciously crispy crust and a soft, airy interior.
Why soda bread? In Ireland, very little wheat was grown that was suitable for yeast bread. So, the Irish developed a way to make bread using baking soda and sour milk. Simple, quick, and incredibly delicious!
Irish Stew.
Ingredients
- 1 kilo of beef steak (cut into 2cm cubes)
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 3 cloves of garlic (finely chopped)
- 3 yellow onions (chopped)
- 500g bacon, pork belly or Zeeland bacon (cut into small cubes)
- 3 tablespoons flour
- 2 cans of 500ml Guinness (1 for the stew and 1 for yourself!)
- 4 tablespoons tomato paste
- 1 liter stock (chicken or beef stock)
- 4 carrots, cut into half-cm slices
- 3 stalks of celery, cut into thin strips
- 3 dried bay leaves
- 3 sprigs of thyme
Preparation method
- Cut the beef steak into 2cm cubes
- Heat oil in a large Dutch oven and brown the pieces of meat on all sides.
- Now remove the meat from the pan and set aside. Add more olive oil to the pan and sauté the onion and garlic until they start to become translucent.
Add the bacon and stir briefly with a wooden spoon so that the bacon cooks briefly. - Now stir in the carrot and celery and fry well for 2 minutes.
- Now add the flour and stir well
- Now add the Guinness and stock and the 4 tablespoons of tomato paste.
- Add the meat back in and stir well until it is well mixed and the flour has dissolved.
Add the bay leaves and thyme last. - Reduce the heat source (either turn down the gas, the oven, or if you're using charcoal and cast iron like me, reduce the number of briquettes in your stew or BBQ)
- Put the lid on your pan and let the stew simmer low and slow for an hour or two.
- Once the meat has become nice and tender, remove the lid and let the stew reduce and thicken for at least 30-45 minutes, but it can also be left on for longer if it needs more time to thicken.
You can increase the temperature a bit here to speed up the process. After that, it's ready.
Soda Bread.
Ingredients
- 4 cups all-purpose flour
- 1 teaspoon baking soda
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1 1/2 cups buttermilk
- 1 tablespoon sugar (optional)
- 1/4 cup raisins (optional)
Preparation method
- Preheat the oven : Preheat your oven to 220°C (425°F).
- In a large bowl, whisk together the flour, baking soda, salt, and sugar (if using).
- Make a well in the center of the dry ingredients and pour in the buttermilk. Stir gently until the dough begins to come together.
- Place the dough on a floured surface and knead gently for about 1 minute, until it forms a cohesive ball. Do not over-knead.
- Shape the dough into a round and place it on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper. Using a sharp knife, cut a deep cross in the top of the loaf.
- Bake in the preheated oven for 30-35 minutes, or until the bread is golden brown and sounds hollow when tapped on the bottom.
- Let the bread cool on a wire rack before slicing. Serve warm with butter or your favorite toppings.
Happy St. Patrick's Day and have fun cooking outdoors!