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Wholesome Healthy Slow Cooker Irish Stew Recipe with Root Vegetables

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A comforting and wholesome slow cooker Irish stew featuring lean lamb or beef and a mix of root vegetables, simmered to tender perfection with fresh herbs and simple ingredients.

Ingredients

Scale
  • 1.5 pounds lean lamb shoulder or beef chuck, cut into 1-inch cubes
  • 3 large carrots, peeled and chopped into chunks
  • 2 parsnips, peeled and chopped
  • 4 medium potatoes (Yukon Gold or red), peeled and cut into chunks
  • 1 medium onion, chopped
  • 4 cups low-sodium beef or vegetable broth
  • 1 cup dry Irish stout or Guinness (optional)
  • 2 sprigs fresh thyme or 1 tsp dried thyme
  • 2 bay leaves
  • Salt and freshly cracked black pepper to taste
  • 2 cloves garlic, minced
  • 1 tbsp tomato paste
  • 1 tbsp olive oil

Instructions

  1. Prep your ingredients by peeling and chopping carrots, parsnips, potatoes, and onion into roughly 1-inch chunks. Cut the lamb or beef shoulder into 1-inch cubes and mince the garlic.
  2. Heat 1 tablespoon olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Brown the meat cubes on all sides until golden, working in batches if needed. Remove and set aside.
  3. In the same skillet, sauté chopped onions until softened and translucent, about 3 minutes. Add minced garlic and cook for 1 minute until fragrant. Stir in tomato paste and cook for another minute.
  4. Transfer browned meat, sautéed onions, and garlic to the slow cooker. Add all chopped root vegetables on top.
  5. Pour in 4 cups of broth and optional 1 cup of Irish stout or Guinness. Add thyme sprigs and bay leaves. Season with salt and freshly cracked black pepper.
  6. Cover and cook on low for 6 to 8 hours or on high for 3 to 4 hours until meat is tender and vegetables are fork-tender but not mushy.
  7. Before serving, remove thyme sprigs and bay leaves. Adjust seasoning as needed. If thickening is desired, whisk 1 tablespoon cornstarch with 2 tablespoons cold water and stir into stew. Cook for an additional 10 minutes.

Notes

Do not skip browning the meat to enhance flavor. Add potatoes later if cooking on high to prevent them from breaking down. Use fresh thyme if possible for better flavor. If stew is too thin, thicken with cornstarch slurry. Leftovers taste better the next day and can be frozen for up to 3 months.

Nutrition

Keywords: Irish stew, slow cooker, healthy stew, root vegetables, lamb stew, beef stew, gluten-free, dairy-free, comfort food

Find it online: https://fuzzyforker.com/wholesome-healthy-slow-cooker-irish-stew-recipe-with-root-vegetables/