Guinness Beef Stew
An easy recipe for one-pot Guinness beef stew
Ingredients
- 3 lbs beef chuck steak
- 1/2 cup flour
- salt and pepper
- 3 tbsp olive oil
- 1 medium onion
- 4 cups beef broth
- 1 1/2 cups Guinness Extra Stout
- 12 small baby Yukon gold potatoes halved
- 1 1/2 cups baby carrots halved
- 4 bay leaves
- 1 tsp thyme fresh or dried
Instructions
- Prepare your ingredients before beginning. Cube the steak, wash and cut the veggies, etc.
- Mix 1/2 cup flour with salt and pepper (a general sprinkling of each) in a shallow dish. You may need more flour.
- Cut your chuck steak into 1 inch cubes, trimming off excess fat.
- Dredge the meat by rolling each piece in the flour mixture until it is coated. Set aside.
- Slice your onion into rings. Wash and half the other vegetables.
- Heat one tablespoon of the olive oil in a heavy stock pot or Dutch oven. I used the Dutch oven.
- Add the onions and cook over medium high until soft and translucent, about five minutes.
- Remove the onions and set aside.
- Add the remaining olive oil to the pot and carefully drop in the meat. It can splatter, so try to use tongs and/or wear gloves.
- Brown the meat on all sides, turning it as it cooks.
- Remove the meat and set aside.
- Add the beef broth to the pot, scraping up the cooked bits from the bottom.
- Add the Guinness to the broth.
- Return the meat and onions to the pot with the broth.
- Add the potatoes, carrots, bay leaves, and thyme.
- Lightly flavor with salt and pepper. Remember to start small, taste, and then add a little more if necessary.
- Bring the mixture to a gentle boil.
- Lower the heat and cover, allowing it to simmer gently for between 1 1/2 to 2 hours.
- Before serving, remove the bay leaves and thyme stems, if any.
Notes
Tips:
You can buy stew meat already cut into cubes. My store didn't have any and I like to trim the meat and control the size anyway.
I use low sodium beef stock (because I am old). That requires a bit of added salt.
I like baby veggies but you can use full size carrots and potatoes. Simply wash and cut the carrots into slices and the potatoes into 1 inch cubes.
You can adjust the amount of vegetables you use, adding a bit more or less according to your preference.
If you really don't want the Guinness, you can leave it out and have a lovely stew.