Ingredients
- 1/2 cup butter
- 1 tablespoon flour
- 1/2 pounds stewing beef
- 6 shallots, peeled and diced
- 2 cloves garlic, crushed
- 3/4 cup pancetta
- 3/4 cup chestnut mushrooms, quartered
- 1/2 cup whole chestnuts, roughly chopped
- 1 3/4 cup Guinness
- 3/4 cup beef stock
- 2 tablespoons of dark chocolate, grated or nibs
- 4 cups potatoes, peeled
- 3/4 cup plain flour
- 1/2 cup butter
- 1 tablespoon flat leaf parsley
- 1 tablespoon sage
- 3 tablespoons flour, for the roux
- 3 tablespoons butter, for the roux
Chef notes
The beef stew was a weekly staple at our Irish family table growing up, and it’s continued on to mine. I’ve added the herby potato dumplings, because they soak up the delicious juices from the stew. I make this for casual suppers with my friends, Irish-style.
Preparation
1.Preheat the oven to 285°F. Place the beef in a large bowl and sprinkle with 0.5oz of flour and season with salt and pepper. Toss to coat.
2.Place a heavy bottomed saucepan or casserole dish over a medium heat and melt 3 tablespoons of butter. Add all of the beef and cook, stirring occasionally, for 5 minutes or until browned. Transfer the beef to a bowl.
3.Stir in the shallots and pancetta and cook for 5 minutes. Turn up the heat to get the pancetta really crispy and the shallots golden brown. Remove the shallots, pancetta and add to the same bowl as the beef.
4.Add another 3 tablespoons of butter and then add the mushrooms, garlic and chestnuts to the casserole dish and cook for 2 to 3 minutes. Then add all the browned ingredients back into the casserole dish.
5.Add the Guinness, beef stock, fresh thyme and the grated chocolate. Bring to the boil and then reduce the heat.
6.To make the potato dumplings, place the peeled potatoes in a saucepan and one-third of the way with water, cover and bring to the boil and reduce to simmer and cook for 30-35 minutes or until the potatoes are completely cooked.
7.Drain the potatoes, season with sea salt and pepper, and add in the butter and finely chopped herbs and mash well. Next stir in the flour and mix until completely combined
8.Flour your hands and mold the potato and herb mixture into dumplings that are just a bit a smaller than a tennis ball. You should be able to make about six.
9.Before you add the dumplings to the stew, make a roux by melting 2 tablespoons of butter in a small saucepan with a spoonful of the liquid from the cooked meat and 3 tablespoons of flour. Strain all the liquid off the meat and slowly whisk into the roux then pour the thickened sauce back over meat.
10.Then add the potato dumplings to the top of the stew so it’s completely covered and put back in the oven uncovered for 35 minutes.
