Signature Dish of the Day: Hearty Irish Beef Stew
Signature Dish of the Day: Happy new week, everyone! I hope you all had a great Valentine's Day weekend 😊💘. I didn't get to post much last week due to unavoidable circumstances but I'm happy to resume blogging today. Kicking off the new week with an ode to Ireland through this beautiful Hearty Irish Beef Stew as our signature dish of the day today! I was blessed to have the opportunity to live in the stunning and ever-gorgeous Emerald Isle for one whole year as part of a job rotation, and I absolutely thoroughly enjoyed my entire experience there. It is truly a magical country with amazing people and it now indelibly holds a very special place in my heart. My husband (boyfriend at that time) also got to visit me during that period and that is how we got introduced to the famous Irish stew! We both loved it since it is very similar to popular beef stews often prepared in our home country as well. Although mutton/lamb is typically the main type of meat used to make traditional Irish stew, beef certainly makes a nice substitute and results in a similarly delectable variation of the original recipe. All in all, there is no doubt that Irish stew is a uniquely wonderful and heart-warming comfort food that fits in perfectly as a fulfilling winter dinner meal.
To prepare this lovely stew, first sauté a melange of diced vegetables including onions, celery, tomatoes, and red and yellow bell peppers with about 3 tablespoons of olive oil in a large pot. Allow this base mixture to caramelize for about 3 minutes before adding about 1 lb. of pre-sliced beef and mixing thoroughly to blend all ingredients together. Season with 1 teaspoon each of ground black pepper, garlic powder, ginger powder, smoked paprika, and a sprinkling of salt and cover the pot to allow the meat to cook for about 10 minutes in its own natural moisture until all the water evaporates and the beef slices begin to brown. Once all the pieces have been sufficiently browned, add about 1 cup of frozen peas and 1/2 cup of yellow squash slices as well as 3 cups of water. Let this cook for another 5 minutes before adding large chunks of about 5 white potatoes each cut in half. Season with some salt to taste and cover once again to allow the potatoes to cook slowly under medium-low heat for another 10 - 12 minutes. Slow-cooking is a key component of this dish as it facilitates the development of a thicker and deeply flavorful broth. Once the potatoes have begun to soften, pour in 1 cup of large, round carrot slices and cover for another 5 minutes until the carrots are just slightly tender. Be sure to taste the salt level and adjust as needed to ensure proper seasoning. Once done, serve hot as a main dinner dish - this delicious stew can be enjoyed on its own as a wholesome meal or served as an accompaniment to other starch-based dishes. Hearty, deeply flavorful, and truly satisfying...I highly recommend this dish and hope you add it to your home menu too. Enjoy! 😍💗
