Clodagh McKenna's cosy Irish beef stew
Comforting, delicious and just the thing for a chilly Monday evening. Clodagh's in the kitchen making her warming and indulgent Irish beef stew which is rich with flavour and is topped off with fluffy fragrant dumplings floating on top.
Chocolate Guinness beef casserole with potato dumplings
Serves: 6
Ingredients
80g butter
650g stewing beef
20g flour
8 shallots, peeled
2 cloves garlic, crushed
1 teaspoon of fresh thyme, finely chopped
200g chestnut mushrooms, quartered
400ml stout
200ml beef stock
50g dark chocolate (70% cocoa solids), grated or nibs
Sea salt and freshly ground black pepper
For the herby potato dumplings
1 kg peeled and quartered potatoes
200g plain flour
80g butter
2 tbsp flat leaf parsley
1 tbsp fresh thyme
Method
1. Preheat the oven to 140oC or gas mark 2.
2. Place the beef in a large bowl and sprinkle with 20g of flour and season with salt and pepper, toss to coat. Place a heavy bottomed saucepan or casserole dish over a medium heat and melt 40g 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 cook for 5 minutes. Turn up the heat to get the shallots golden brown. Remove the shallots and add to the same bowl as the beef.
4. Add another 50g of butter and then the chestnut mushrooms and garlic to the casserole dish and cook for 2 to 3 minutes. Then add all the browned ingredients back into the casserole dish.
5. Pour in the Irish stout, beef stock, fresh thyme and the grated chocolate, bring to the boil and then reduce the heat. Place the lid on the casserole dish and cook for 1 hr 30.
6. To make the potato dumplings, place the peeled potatoes in a saucepan and fill halfway 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 combine. Flour your hands and mould the potato and herb mixture into dumplings that are just a bit smaller than a tennis ball. You should be able to make about eight.
8. Turn the oven up to 180c.
9. Remove the casserole from the oven and add the herby potato dumplings to the top of the stew so it’s completely covered and put back in the oven uncovered for 25 - 30 mins.