Perfect beef stew and dumplings recipe

beef

🥗Healthier: chicken

💰Cheaper: pork

Chicken is leaner and pork is often less expensive.

butter

🥗Healthier: olive oil

💰Cheaper: margarine

Olive oil is healthier and margarine can be a cost-effective alternative.

flour

🥗Healthier: whole wheat flour

💰Cheaper: all-purpose flour

Whole wheat flour adds fiber, while all-purpose is often cheaper.

beef broth

🥗Healthier: vegetable broth

💰Cheaper: water with bouillon

Vegetable broth is lower in calories, and bouillon is a cost-effective option.

Trim away most of the sinew from the shin of beef to prevent toughness.

Toss the beef in 2 tablespoons of flour and a generous pinch of salt until lightly coated.

Heat beef dripping in a cast iron casserole pan until melted.

Brown the beef in the pan to develop a caramelized crust, being careful not to overcrowd the pan.

Add chopped baby onions to the pan and cook until they color slightly, then combine with the beef.

Pour in 300 mL of beef stock and scrape the bottom of the pan with a wooden spoon to incorporate the crusty bits.

Add 300 mL of stout to the mixture, ensuring the beef is just covered by the liquid.

Add a bay leaf and a few sprigs of thyme for flavor.

Bring the mixture to a boil, then cover and reduce the heat to a low to moderate simmer for 2 hours.

After 2 hours, add chopped carrots and turnips, ensuring they are cut into even-sized chunks.

Simmer for an additional hour to cook the vegetables through without making them mushy.

Ideally, let the stew sit overnight to develop flavors and remove excess fat from the top before serving.

To make the dumplings, mix plain flour, a little baking powder, salt, chives, and parsley in a bowl.

Add cold water gradually until a dough forms, ensuring it is not too wet.

Once the stew is simmering, drop the dumpling dough on top of the stew and cover.

Cook the dumplings for about 25 minutes, turning them over a couple of times during cooking to ensure even cooking.

Cooking Techniques

Equipment Needed

Spice Level:

Allergens