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Cozy Guinness Beef Stew Recipe with Easy Irish Soda Bread Dumplings

Guinness beef stew - featured image
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A hearty and comforting beef stew simmered in Guinness stout, topped with crusty Irish soda bread dumplings. Perfect for cozy nights and casual gatherings.

Ingredients

Scale
  • 2 pounds beef chuck, cut into 1-inch cubes
  • 2 tablespoons vegetable oil or beef tallow
  • 1 large onion, chopped
  • 3 cloves garlic, minced
  • 3 medium carrots, peeled and sliced
  • 2 celery stalks, sliced
  • 1 bottle (11.2 oz / 330 ml) Guinness stout or any dry Irish stout
  • 2 cups (16 fl oz) beef broth, preferably low sodium
  • 2 tablespoons tomato paste
  • 2 teaspoons Worcestershire sauce
  • 1 teaspoon dried thyme
  • 2 bay leaves
  • Salt and freshly ground black pepper, to taste
  • 2 tablespoons all-purpose flour
  • For the Irish Soda Bread Dumplings:
  • 1 cup (125 g) all-purpose flour (use gluten-free flour blend for GF option)
  • 1 teaspoon baking soda
  • 1/2 teaspoon salt
  • 1/2 cup (4 fl oz) buttermilk or dairy-free milk with 1 tsp vinegar
  • 2 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted

Instructions

  1. Pat the beef cubes dry with paper towels. Chop onion, carrots, celery, and mince the garlic.
  2. Heat 2 tablespoons of vegetable oil in a Dutch oven over medium-high heat. Add beef in batches and brown on all sides, about 4 minutes per batch. Remove beef and set aside.
  3. Reduce heat to medium. Add onions, carrots, and celery to the pot. Cook for 5-7 minutes until softened and slightly caramelized. Stir in garlic and cook for another minute.
  4. Stir in tomato paste and cook for 2 minutes. Sprinkle flour over vegetables and stir well to coat.
  5. Slowly pour in Guinness, scraping the bottom of the pot to lift browned bits. Simmer for 3 minutes to reduce slightly.
  6. Return beef to the pot. Add beef broth, Worcestershire sauce, thyme, bay leaves, salt, and pepper.
  7. Bring to a gentle simmer, reduce heat to low, cover, and cook for 1.5 to 2 hours until beef is fork-tender and stew thickens. Stir occasionally.
  8. While stew simmers, mix flour, baking soda, and salt in a bowl. Add buttermilk and melted butter. Stir just until combined.
  9. Drop spoonfuls of dumpling dough evenly over stew surface. Cover tightly and simmer for 15-20 minutes until dumplings puff up and cook through.
  10. Remove bay leaves. Adjust seasoning with salt and pepper. Serve stew hot with dumplings on top.

Notes

Brown beef in batches to avoid steaming. Don’t skip deglazing to add flavor. Add dumplings only at the end to keep them light. Adjust salt carefully as broth and Guinness contain salt. If stew is too thick, add broth or water; if too thin, simmer uncovered. Dumplings are best fresh and do not store well.

Nutrition

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

Find it online: https://eliplate.com/cozy-guinness-beef-stew-recipe-with-easy-irish-soda-bread-dumplings/