This week I have opted for a much simpler dish, one that I often cook at home. Stews are the ultimate in comfort food, are easy to prepare and economical to produce. At the same time, they are nutritious and wholesome, using the best of Irish meat and vegetables.

Like all stews, this dish tastes even better the next day, and goes well with various accompaniments. Although you will want to choose the best, freshest vegetables for the stew, take care when shopping for organic vegetables.

A lot of organic vegetables available in Ireland are also imported, so label-checking is important. In my opinion, buying Irish is best.

Braised beef in Guinness
Serves 4
Cooking time: 1 hour 10 minutes

Ingredients
1lb sirloin beef
1/4 litre lightly whipped cream
1 litre beef stock
1/2 litre Guinness
2 medium onions
1 clove garlic
1 carrot
1 leek
1 celery root
Dozen mushrooms
Crushed black peppercorns
Sea salt
1 tsp honey
4 tomatoes (roughly chopped)
Thyme
Basil
Bay leaf
50g butter

Method
1. Trim the beef and cut into 2cm strips. Then season, and saute the beef in a hot pan. Remove from the heat.

2. Clean and wash all the vegetables. Dice the onions, slice the mushrooms and crush the garlic. Then chop the carrots and celery root in 4cm pieces and cut the leek into matchstick strips.

3. Saute the vegetables in a warm pan or pot.

4. Chop the thyme and basil, add some crushed peppercorns and mix this with the vegetables.

5. Place the honey and the bay leaf in the stew pot, then pour in the beef and the vegetables, before adding the Guinness and beef stock.

6. Bring the mixture to boiling point, cover with a lid and place in a warm oven 350F, 180C or gas mark 4 for about 35 minutes.

7. Remove from the oven and add the cream with a wooden spoon. Cook for a further ten minutes in the oven.

8. Correct the seasoning and fold in the butter.

To serve
Serve with either roast or mashed potatoes, a leaf of basil and a flower of thyme.

Kevin Thornton is a Michelin-starred chef and owner of Thornton’s Restaurant on St Stephen’s Green in Dublin.
www.thorntonsrestaurant.com

Tags: meat