Traditional Irish Beef Stew

One of our family's favorite holidays, St. Patrick's Day, is right around the corner. St. Patrick's Day and Spring usually go hand in hand, but this year we've had crazy weather leaving us in desperate need of hearty, homemade comfort food. Now not just any dish would do, but a tasty dish cooked long and slow on the stovetop, with a deliciously warm aroma that permeates the house... my mind went straight to Irish Beef Stew. This tasty and tender beef stew served with garlicky mashed potatoes was just what we needed after a hard cold windy day.  

Here's my recipe for Traditional Irish Beef Stew:

Serves 4
Ingredients:

1 lb cubed stew beef
2 cups beef stock
1 cup dark stout beer*
1 yellow onion, chopped
1 leek, thinly sliced
2 carrots, diced

1 parsnip, diced
1 Tbsp tomato paste
1 tsp fresh thyme leaves
1 bay leaf
2 tsp garlic, minced

1 Tbsp Unsalted Butter

1 Tbsp Flour
Fresh Parsley, chopped

*No Beer, no problem just 1 cup extra of beef stock.
Directions:

1. Season beef with salt and pepper. Heat olive oil, add beef to a pot over medium heat and cook until browned then set aside.

2. Add butter, garlic, onion, leek, parsnips and carrots to the pot. Cook, stirring occasionally about 2-3 minutes. Stir in tomato paste until well combined, about 1 minute.

3. Add beef broth, beer, thyme, black pepper, bay leaf, browned beef and parsley.

4. Bring to a boil, then reduce heat, cover and simmer for about 90 minutes.
If stew is still liquidy, add a mixture of flour and water to the stockpot until thickened, about 2-3 minutes. 

Serve with garlic mashed potatoes. Enjoy!