Lamb Stew
I remember a time when I was not a fan of lamb. What was I thinking! Well, I’ve changed! I can honestly say I love lamb now and look forward to making it often. And I do! Such as this lamb stew! It’s incredibly flavorful and if you’re not a fan of lamb because of the smell, I have to tell you not to worry, you won’t smell a thing, except deliciousness.
This lamb stew is about as simple to make as stews can get! I mean it! A handful of ingredients, minimal prep time and all you have to do is wait for the stew to cook.
So why Irish lamb stew? Over Christmas we had a couple friends stay with us from Ireland. When friends come to visit they always ask me what to bring me and my answer is always a cookbook from where they live. So they brought me an Irish cookbook. With St. Patrick’s day just around the corner, I’ve been wondering what to make for you guys that’s Irish. And this is how this lamb stew came to be, by flipping through the book, this is what jumped at me.
There really is no such thing as an exact Irish stew recipe because every family has their own version. However, there are some basic ingredients that are always added to stew, so this is what I wanted to share with you today. A stew recipe that anyone can make and expand on this recipe as you like.
What Ingredients Are in Lamb Stew
If you’ve never made any kind of stew before, the idea can be a bit overwhelming. The truth is, stew is one of of the easiest things you can make in your kitchen. Here are the ingredients for this hearty lamb stew:
- Lamb
- Flour
- Potatoes
- Carrots
- Pearl onions or regular onions
- Chicken broth, beef broth, vegetable broth or lamb broth
- Olive oil
- Thyme
- Salt and Pepper
Other Ingredients You Can Add to Lamb Stew
As mentioned this is a basic lamb stew recipe, one that we should all have in our cooking repertoire. But that’s not to say that you cannot experiment and try different ingredients to your liking. Here are some other ingredients you can add to your stew:
- Mushrooms
- Bell peppers
- Peas
- Bay leaves
- Garlic
- Tomato Paste
- Bacon
- Red or White wine
- Beer such as Guinness
- Worcestershire Sauce
- Paprika
The sky is the limit, really. Just add whatever you like. Feel free to try different herbs and spices!
How to Make Lamb Stew
First, toss the lamb meat with some flour, making sure each piece of meat is coated in flour. Ever wonder why? While there are conflicting feelings on this subject, the answer is simple. For one, we are essentially making a roux. The flour on the meat mixes with the fat in the pan as it cooks, providing thickening power when liquid is added. Aside from its thickening power, flouring the meat provides a flavorful crust that insulates the meat from the high heat.
Heat the oil in a Dutch oven then toss in the meat and brown it on all sides, until nice and brown. You might have to do this in a couple batches. Remove the meat from the pot and set aside.
Add the carrots, onions, potatoes, herbs and spices to the Dutch oven. Add a splash of the broth and scrape the brown bits from the bottom of the pan. Cook for a couple minutes, then add the meat back to the pot and the remaining broth. Bring to a boil then season again with salt and pepper if needed.
Cover the pot and bake in a 350 F degrees preheated oven for 1 1/2 hours to 2 hours, until the meat is very tender.
What Potatoes Are Best for Stew
For stews there really is no rule when it comes to which potatoes to use, because stews have less liquid than soups. Any potatoes will work, including russet potatoes, Yukon Gold potatoes, which is what I used here. Fingerling potatoes or baby potatoes would also work quite well in stews.
What Cut of Lamb Is Best for Stew
I prefer using shoulder, leg or shank for stewing. The lamb’s shoulder is full of flavor, and because it takes a while to become tender, it’s a great choice for stewing or slow roasting. Shank is a cheaper cut, taken from the lower part of the back legs. There is a lot of collagen in the shank, and when cooked slowly the meat gets a soft melting texture, which is perfect for stews.
I usually prefer leg because I find it at Costco and it’s usually boneless and comes at a great deal. The leg, like the shoulder has a lot of flavor. Leg of lamb is great roasted whole, but I also love it in stews, because it doesn’t take so long to cook. In this stew, the meat was done in 1 1/2 hours and the meat was super tender.
Tips to Keep in Mind When Making the Perfect Lamb Stew
- Always brown your meat first to lock in that flavor and provide that thickening power to your stew.
- Use the right cut of lamb for the most flavorful lamb.
- Don’t be afraid to experiment with different spices and herbs.
- Serve this lamb stew with a good crusty bread that is great for dipping.
How to Store Leftover Lamb Stew
Allow the stew to come to room temperature but don’t leave it out, unrefrigerated for more than two hours. Store it in airtight containers in the refrigerator for 3 to 4 days.
Can You Freeze Lamb Stew
You can freeze this stew for up to 6 months. Simply transfer it to airtight containers or resealable freezer bags and pop them in the freezer.
TRY THESE STEW RECIPES:
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Irish Lamb Stew
Ingredients
- 3 pound lamb cut into cubes, I used boneless leg of lamb
- 2 tablespoon all-purpose flour
- 3 tablespoon olive oil
- 12 pearl onions or 1 large onion chopped
- 3 medium carrots cut into 1 inch pieces
- 6 medium potatoes peeled and cubed
- 1 teaspoon thyme dried
- 1 teaspoon salt or to taste
- 1 teaspoon pepper or to taste
- 4 cups chicken broth low sodium, or vegetable/beef/lamb broth
- 2 tablespoon parsley fresh and chopped, for garnish
Instructions
- Preheat oven: Preheat the oven to 350 F degrees.
- Toss the meat with flour: Toss the lamb cubes with the flour well, ensuring each piece is coated in flour.
- Brown meat: Heat the oil in a large Dutch oven. Toss in the meat and brown it on all sides, until nice and brown. You might have to do this in a couple batches. Remove the meat from the pot and set aside.
- Add veggies and combine everything together: Add the carrots, onions, potatoes, herbs and spices to the Dutch oven. Add a splash of the broth and scrape the brown bits from the bottom of the pan. Cook for a couple minutes, then add the meat back to the pot and the remaining broth. Bring to a boil then season again with salt and pepper if needed.
- Bake: Cover the pot and transfer to the oven to bake for 1 1/2 hours to 2 hours, until the meat is very tender.
- Garnish and serve: Garnish with fresh parsley and serve.
Made this last night for my family and it was really good. First time using lamb in a stew but will definitely do again. Had 1.6kg of boneless shoulder and cooked for 2 hrs at 180C. Used veggie stock and extra Italian seasoning. Scooped out the layer of oil. Served with sourdough bread and rice.
That’s great Gary! So glad everyone enjoyed this stew!
I would like to make this for St. Paddys’ Day dinner….. how long will I cook it in the crock pot (mine has Low and High settings.)
Thank you and have made several of your recipes and have never yet had a failure as they are all so easy to follow!
yvonne
It’s going to take 8 hours on low to make this in a crockpot. 🙂
Good and simple. Love pictures.
So very tasty and easy to make. Taste fantastic the next day too. Thanks for sharing.
Sissy
So happy you liked this!