Description
A comforting and hearty Irish Lamb Stew featuring tender lamb shoulder simmered with root vegetables, aromatic herbs, and optional pearl barley for added texture. Perfect for a cozy family meal, this classic stew combines simple ingredients into a rich and flavorful dish.
Ingredients
Scale
Meat
- 2 lbs lamb shoulder, cut into chunks
Vegetables
- 3 large carrots, chopped into even chunks
- 4 medium Yukon Gold or Russet potatoes, peeled and chopped into even chunks
- 1 large onion, chopped
- 3 cloves garlic, minced
Other Ingredients
- 4 cups beef broth
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 2 sprigs fresh thyme
- 2 bay leaves
- 1/2 cup pearl barley (optional)
Instructions
- Prepare Vegetables: Chop the carrots, potatoes, and onion into even chunks to ensure uniform cooking throughout the stew.
- Brown the Lamb: Heat olive oil in a large pot over medium heat. Add lamb chunks and brown on all sides to develop flavor and seal in juices.
- Sauté Aromatics: Remove the browned lamb and sauté chopped onions and minced garlic in the same pot until they become translucent and fragrant.
- Cook Vegetables: Add the chopped carrots, potatoes, thyme sprigs, and bay leaves to the pot. Stir continuously for 3-4 minutes until the vegetables begin to glisten with oil.
- Simmer the Stew: Return the lamb to the pot, pour in the beef broth, and add pearl barley if using. Bring the mixture to a gentle simmer.
- Slow Cook: Partially cover the pot and reduce heat to low. Let the stew cook for 1.5 hours or until the lamb is fork-tender and the flavors have melded beautifully.
Notes
- For a thicker stew, mash some of the potatoes after cooking or add a slurry of flour and water towards the end of cooking.
- Pearl barley is optional but adds a lovely chewy texture and helps thicken the stew.
- Leftovers taste even better the next day once flavors have melded further.
- Serve with crusty bread or over mashed potatoes for a complete meal.
- For a richer flavor, brown the lamb in batches without overcrowding the pot.
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 1 hour 30 minutes
- Category: Main Course
- Method: Stovetop
- Cuisine: Irish
