Traditional recipes for Irish stew use a tough, fatty cut of lamb and only potatoes, onions and herbs. This up-to-date version with lamb leg steaks is leaner, and more colourful with the addition of carrots, but still retains its comforting, homely flavour.
Lamb best end of neck cutlets are traditional in Irish stew and you can use 8 of them if you like, but make sure they are well trimmed of fat before layering them in the casserole. * If you want the cooking liquid to be slightly thickened, sprinkle 1 tbsp pearl barley between the first few layers along with the herbs. * Use turnips instead of carrots. * Add 125 g (4 1/2 oz) whole small button mushrooms, layering them in the casserole with the onion and carrots. * For a real taste of Ireland, replace half of the stock with Guinness.
Carrots are not traditional in Irish stew, but they are well worth including, both for their colour and flavour and from a nutritional point of view.
Something else. Cooked it in the slow cooker for 7hrs on low - the meat was so tender! Stirred in a spoonful of cornflour in the last 30 mins to thicken the sauce. - 23 Nov 2009
I went to 4 stores and none of them had *any* lamb! So, I cut my losses and got some nice, lean beef. While the flavors were simple, it was still a very good stew. It went great with some homemade bread and a Guinness! Next time I make this, I *will* find some nice lamb! - 11 Mar 2012
Used different ingredients. I used Lambs Hearts ..cleaned and either sliced or cubed... - 03 Nov 2010