Colin Quinns Irish Lamb Stew Food

COLIN QUINN'S IRISH LAMB STEW

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 325 degrees.
• Heat olive oil in a large Dutch oven over medium heat. Add onions and cook, stirring, until soft and translucent. Add lamb shoulder and thyme; season with salt and pepper.
• Slice two of the potatoes and add to pot, along with chicken stock and Worcestershire sauce. Halve remaining 4 potatoes and add to pot; stir to combine. Cover and transfer to oven. Bake for 1 hour.
• Remove from oven and add carrots, barley, and heavy cream. Cover and return to oven. Bake until lamb and barley are tender, 45 minutes to 1 hour. Season with salt and pepper and sprinkle with parsley before serving.

IRISH LAMB STEW

Steps:

• Cut lamb into cubes.
• Peel and roughly chop the shallots, and slice and rinse the leek.
• Peel and dice the potatoes, carrots and rutabaga.
• Heat oil in a heavy saucepan, add lamb and cook until lightly browned, remove from pan.
• Add shallots, leeks and garlic to the pan and cook for a few minutes.
• Sprinkle the flour over the shallots and stir until mixture browns.
• Gradually add stock while stirring.
• Return meat to saucepan.
• Add salt, pepper, rosemary and bay leaves.
• Cover and simmer until meat is almost tender, about 30 minutes.
• Add the carrots and turnips, and cook for 10 minutes.
• Add the potatoes and cook for 20 minutes longer.
• About 10 minutes before you are ready to serve the stew, add the peas and simmer for 5 to 10 minutes.
• If you are expecting to have leftovers, it's best to divide the stew beforehand and add the peas (in proportion) only to the part being served. Reheat the remaining stew and add the remaining peas just before serving.

IRISH STEW

Steps:

• Trim and reserve fat and bones from lamb. Cut meat into 1 1/2-inch pieces. Place fat in heavy large Dutch oven over medium-high heat. Cook fat until 3 tablespoons drippings are rendered, about 5 minutes. Using large spoon, remove any solid fat from pot; discard. Sprinkle lamb with salt and pepper. Working in batches, add lamb to pot; sauté until brown on all sides, about 5 minutes per batch. Using slotted spoon , transfer lamb to plate. Add bones to pot; cook until brown, about 5 minutes. Using tongs, transfer bones to plate.
• Add vegetables, parsley and thyme to pot; stir to coat with drippings. Return meat and bones to pot. Add 2 cups water and bring to boil. Reduce heat to medium-low. Cover pot tightly; simmer until lamb is tender and vegetables are soft, stirring occasionally, about 1 1/2 hours.
• Discard bones. Place 1 cup vegetables in processor; puree. Add to stew. Season with salt and pepper. (Can be made 1 day ahead. Cover; chill. Simmer before serving.)

IRISH STEW WITH LAMB AND GUINNESS

Steps:

• The barley is optional but it makes it even more traditional. Cook it in 3 cups of stock for 20 minutes then add it into the stew when you return the meat to the pot.
• Cut off some of the parsley leaves and chop enough to make 2 tablespoons; reserve. Cut off some parsley stems, and tie them into a bundle with a few sprigs of rosemary and thyme; reserve.
• Season the meat with salt and brown the meat in a little oil. Remove and reserve, and sprinkle with a little flour, shaking off excess. Add the onions, garlic, carrots and celery to the pan and sauté, tossing to coat with the fat. Add the Guinness and deglaze, scraping up any caramelized meat juices. Add the potatoes, return the meat to the pot (and the barley if you're using it). Add enough stock to barely cover, cook over medium heat until just boiling, then reduce heat to very low and simmer 2 - 3 hours, until the meat is tender, stirring occasionally.
• Check seasonings, add salt and pepper to taste, then remove from heat, stir in parsley and the cornstarch (mixed into 4 teaspoons water) and stir. Cook over low heat for a few more minutes to thicken. Serve with plenty of Irish brown or white soda bread, tea and more Guinness if you like.