Simple Beef and Stout Stew

It’s Saint Patrick’s Day! Even though I’m Irish, I’m not a huge fan of the holiday. Mostly because its an excuse for people to get obliterated on alcohol and pinch anyone NOT wearing green.

DON’T TOUCH ME. I’M WEARING GREEN.

Anyway, I figured I’d share with you my favourite beef stew recipe my mom found on the FoodNetwork almost 10 years ago now. You can add potatoes if you want; I sometimes halve or quarter small red potatoes and throw them in, but it’s not necessary.

There’s a small amount of prep that goes into it before putting it in the crock pot, but its totally worth it.

Ingredients:

2lbs stewing beef
3 Tbs oil
2 Tbs flour
salt and pepper
pinch cayenne
2 large onions, chopped
1 garlic clove, crushed
2 to 3 Tbls ketchup
1 1/4 cups Guinness one 12oz bottle
2 cups large dice carrots
sprig of thyme

Directions:

Trim meat of any fat or gristle and cut in 2-inch cubes I purchased already cut stew meat to save time; it’s easy to find in your grocer’s meat department, or you can ask your butcher!
Toss beef with 1 Tbls of the oil
In a small bowl or 1-gallon ziplock bag, season the flour with salt, pepper and cayenne. Toss meat with seasoned flour
Heat remaining 2Tbls oil in a large skillet over high heat. Brown the meat on all sides
Reduce the heat, add the onions, crushed garlic and ketchup to the skillet, cover and cook gently for 5 min
Transfer the contents of the skillet to the crock pot and pour half the Guinness into the skillet
Bring Guinness to a boil and stir to dissolve the carmelized meat juices in the pan
Pour over meat in the crock pot, along with the remaining Guinness
Add the carrots and thyme. Stir and adjust seasonings
Cover and simmer in the crock-pot for about 4 or 5 hours on high or 7 to 8 on low

You can serve this on top of mashed potatoes or cauliflower, dip some brown bread into it or do what I’m doing and top it with some Guinness cheese crisps!!