Wednesday, October 19, 2011

Luck of the Irish (Stew)

Fall is my favorite season for a number of reasons, but one of the things I love the most about the autumn and winter months is warming up to a piping hot bowl of Irish Stew


I discovered this recipe a couple years ago on the Food Network. They had hosted a contest for the world's best stew, and this traditional Irish dish beat out all the others. You'll understand why as soon as you taste it! 


The flavor is so unique - it's really like nothing I've ever tasted - and everyone I've made it for just loves it too. The recipe is a little detailed, and it does take about three hours combined prep and cook time, but it smells so good cooking you wouldn't want to leave the kitchen anyway!


Here it is!

Ingredients:
3 lamb chops
¼ cup flour
½ bag peeled carrots
1 onion
½ cup red cooking wine
4 cups beef stock
1 cup barley
4 potatoes
1 stick butter
3 cloves garlic
About ½ cup olive oil
Spices: salt, pepper, bay leaves, cloves, thyme, parsley


Directions:
1. In a thick ceramic oven-safe pot heat up ¼ cup olive oil on stove.
2. Wash and cut three lamb chops in half.
3. Sprinkle salt and pepper on chops and roll in flour mixed with more salt and pepper.
4. Sear lamb chops on both sides 4-5 minutes.
5. Take out meat and use excess juices to cook carrots and onions.
6. Add 1 cup wine and 4 cups beef stock. Simmer for 10 minutes.

(of course the cook gets a glass!) ( ;

7. Add spices: 3 bay leaves, 4-5 cloves, pinch thyme. (It's the bay leaves that really give this stew its distinct flavor!)

8. Add one cup barley and mix.
9. Add lamb chops back in and put in pre-heated oven at 350 degrees for 1 hour.
10. While cooking, make garlic butter (see below).
11. After one hour, take out stew, salt, and stir.
12. Peel and chop in large chunks 3 large potatoes.

13. Put on top of stew and drizzle olive oil.

14. Put back in oven and bake for 1 hour.
15. After 1 hour, take out stew, stir, brush on ¾ garlic butter, and bake for 15 minutes.
16. Take out stew, brush on rest of garlic butter, and serve.

Garlic Butter:
1. Mince 2-3 whole cloves of garlic.
2. Drizzle olive oil on top.

3. Sprinkle with salt.
4. Chop garlic and grind to paste texture.
5. Fold in ½ bunch parsley, chop, and mix together.
6. Turn pan on low and melt 1 stick butter.
7. Combine with garlic mix.

The stew is so thick when it comes out of the oven you can stand up a spoon in the bowl!



This delicious dish will make any hungry guy or gal feel as lucky as the Irish. ( ;

If you decide to give this recipe a go, let me know how it turns out!

~ Nel ~

28 comments:

Cottage and Broome said...

Irish stew sound perfect for today, it was 39 degrees here this morning. Your dish looks wonderful, Laura, Cottage and Broome

Vær våken said...

Looks really delicious!!! Happy Wednesday!

Love, Kristin

Susie Swanson said...

You just made me hungry...hehehe.. I need to snatch this and give it a try.. Enjoy and think of me..lol..

Daniella said...

My grandma made traditional Irish stew and it is yummy!!!
Your recipe look delicious!
xxDaniella

janice15 said...

Hi Sheri, I used to make something like this years ago..My hubby at the time was a meat deliverer and he would sometimes bring these little lamb hum I think neck or ribblets..I don't remember for sure..lol..but this sounds wonderful me and Mom was just speaking about lamb...will try it soon..thank you so much for coming to visit and the kind words that you left..I finally am feeling part of the blog world..hugs...Janice..

Sylvia said...

Oh, sounds so delicious ...Yes , I will give the recipe a try !
Enjoy the season !

Draffin Bears said...

Irish stew, is the best especially on a cold wintery day. Thanks for sharing the recipe and I will be trying this.

Happy Thursday
Hugs
Carolyn

TARYTERRE said...

I LOVE lamb. It's labor intensive, but your recipe sure sounds good. The photos had my mouthwatering. I can think of nothing more delicious on a cool autumn or winter day than having a bowl of this. My great grandmother was from County Cork in Ireland but an Irish Stew recipe was never passed along. I'm going to copy this down. Thanks for sharing.

Deborah said...

Love the photo and can I come round for tea please :)

Bee happy x
Have a delicious day!

magie said...

That stew looks yummy! I also like the sound of having an left-over glass of wine for the cook..sounds like my kind of recipe :P

Joanna said...

Thanks for stopping by! This stew looks so yummy, & right now I feel like making this! It's a cool day here & this sounds fabulous :)

xo

Becky said...

Oh this looks yummy Nell.My husband was Irish and we had lots of stews lol.His mother made that alot...I got the recipe.

Wendy@Once upon a rose haven said...

This stew looks delicious. I had lots of fun visiting your beautiful blog.
Blessings,
~Wendy

Elaine said...

Love the scarecrow in the pumpkin patch.. I need to try your stew.

Castles Crowns and Cottages said...

Sheri and NEL, this is a fabulous looking recipe that will do me just fine these cool days!!! AND THE MUSIC IS WONDERFUL. Sheri,your visit today is much appreciated and thank you for such kind words. OH DO I KNOW the dedication it takes for a Ph.D; my husband took 12 years to complete his thesis! And it took me 17 years to get all my degrees and licenses. Grace and love, faith and PERSEVERANCE gets us to our destination!

ENJOY YOUR STEW!!!!! Anita

Christine @ Stonehouse Living said...

Hi Nel,

I will have to try this Irish Stew!! It looks and sounds so comforting... We have had nothing but wind and rain here this week, this would be perfect for the weekend!
All the Best,
Christine

Carrie's The Created Home said...

Yum! The first time I had a version of this was while I was in South Africa. One of the best meals I ever ate! Thanks for sharing! Blessings- Carrie

Forty Pound Sack said...

Looks wonderful! Perfect time of year to whip up a pot of stew ~

Castles Crowns and Cottages said...

Dear NEL,

Thank you so much for visiting me upon you mom's recommendation!!!! I was telling her that my husband is a Ph.D., and we had moved from L.A. to Boston back in 1986 so he could get his Master's then Ph.D. It was a long and very challenging road, but you are so smart to start this NOW while you are young. We did start his career while in our late 20s, but it just took so long and there were times that he almost gave up. But he is just one rung away from being a full professor, and I know you will do it. NEVER GIVE UP, because I wouldn't be doing what I am doing today if I HAD given up on myself. Ruben and I are the first in both of our families to go to college and universities. So take what you have and run fast with it!!!! THANK YOU for your kind words...I wish you the best! Anita

Ricki Treleaven said...

Comfort food for the weekend!!! Yummy!!!!!!!!!!

xoxoxoxoxo,
Ricki Jill

Magical Daydream said...

Looks like a really good meal. But very honest.. I think I might be too lazy to cook for 3 hours (sst don't tell). Anyway, thanks for sharing!

x

Marielle

Marilyn said...

Sheri, this looks fantastic! I love cooking hearty meals like this on my day off during the week. I also have lamb in the freezer! I'll be trying this soon. With some cornbread on the side. Thanks!

Castles Crowns and Cottages said...

Good morning Nel,

Thank you for coming back and yes, the long road takes us to interesting places, and my husband and I were just talking last night about how after all is said and done and degrees have been obtained, we find how funny it is that this path we have taken has literally brought us back to square one:

WHO WE REALLY ARE...and that is, artists, writers and creators. Funny how we take these winding paths for which I am most grateful, but only to find your way back home. PEACE and much success! Anita

Anonymous said...

YUM!!! Looks delicious.

Attic Clutter said...

Oh great dish (:)
thanks for liking my pumpkin guy (:)
have a wonderful day ..
hugs,Patty

THE VERANDA HOUSE said...

HI GOOD MORNING NELL THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR YOUR VISITS TO MY BLOG,I HAVE TRY TO LEAVE A COMMENT IN YOUR LOVELY BLOG AND I WAS NOT ABLE TO?? I HOPE THIS TIME IT POST MY COMMENT,I THANK YOU FOR YOUR VISITS AND THIS WONDERFUL IRISH STEW,I CAN TSSTE WITH SOME POTATOE BREAD,SO DELISSIOSO !! COMFORT FOODS ARE THE BEST.YOU ARE SO BLESS TO HAVE DAUGHTER'S IT MUST BEE SO MUCH FUN TO BE ABLLE TO GO OUT WITH THEM AND I CAN TELL YOU ARE A WONDERFUL MOTHER,I ONLY HAVE 2 BOY'S AND THEY ARE NOT IN TOWN ANY MOORE.KEEP YOUR GIRLS CLOSE TO YOUR HEART NELL ,I ALWAY'S WISH FOR A GIRL IN MY LIFE.. I AM SURE YOUR BRIDE DAUGHTER WILL BE A DREM ,IS SHE GETTING MARRIED THIS FALL OR NEXT ,BRIDES ARE MY PASSION,I WAS A WEDDING PLANER IN SMALL SCALE 30 THE MOST .AFTER MY BREAST CANCER I STOP DOING IT ONLY FOR CLOSE FRIENDS OR FAMILY ,I ALSO DOD HAIR AND MAKE UP !! I STILL LOVE THE LOVELY BROCADES RAW SILK TAFETTA,AND IRISH LACE IS SO UNIQUE,ALSO FRESH FLOWERS IN A WEDDING ARE VITAL AT ANY WEDDINGTHEIR COLORFUL PETALS BRING FRAGANCE AND DRAMA ,I AM NOT SEEING MUCH WEDDIN CAKES MUCH MOORE IS MOSTLY COTURE CUPCAKES.I LOVE PINK AND GOLD FOR FALL CAKES ,SO ELEGANT ....XO!!!! SANDRA

Diana said...

I'm dying to try this! You made it sound soo good! When I do I'll let you know how it turns out! I'm not that great at cooking, but I'm sure if I stick to your recipie I can't go wrong! Thanks for sharing!

teddy bears Marin to Venice said...

La vita è MUSICA !!!!

Kiss

Rosarita