Glens Of Antrim Irish Stew

Total Time: 2 hrs 5 mins Preparation Time: 20 mins Cook Time: 1 hr 45 mins

Ingredients

• Servings: 4
• 1 ounce butter
• 2 lbs lamb or 2 lbs beef, cubed
• 1 large onion, coarsely chopped
• 2 carrots, chopped
• 1 tablespoon all-purpose flour (optional)
• 1/2 pint beef stock
• 2 tablespoons tomato puree
• 1/2 tablespoon sugar
• 2 potatoes, cubed (optional)
• 1 (12 ounce) bottle guinness stout or 1 large glass red wine
• 1 bouquet garni (sprig of parsley, sprig of thyme, 1 bay leaf tied up in muslin)
• salt & freshly ground black pepper
• tabasco sauce

Recipe

• 1 melt the butter in a large pan and fry the meat in it until browned on all sides. do not crowd the pan; brown the meat in two or three batches if necessary. remove the meat from the pan, add the onion and carrots and cook until slightly softened.
• 2 return the meat to the pan, add the flour, if using, then stir in the stock, tomato puree and sugar. bring to the boil and then reduce the heat to a simmer. add the potatoes, if using, the guinness or the wine, the bouquet garni and salt and pepper to taste.
• 3 cook over a low heat for about 1 to 1 1/2 hours or until the meat is tender. while the stew is simmering, add 4 or 5 drops of tabasco to taste.