Beef stew with herb dumplings

Chef: Bosch

Prep: 20 mins

Cook: 145 mins

A hearty and tasty meal for your family

1 tbsp mild olive oil

1 large onion, roughly chopped

600g stewing beef, trimmed of fat and cut into cubes

2 cloves garlic, crushed

1 tbsp plain flour

2 sticks celery, chopped

3 carrots, peeled and chopped into large chunks

1 tin chopped tomatoes

1 tbsp tomato puree

1 tbsp Worchester sauce

500 ml beef or vegetable stock

1 tsp chopped fresh thyme or ½ tsp dried thyme

1 bay leaf

Salt and pepper

For the dumplings

65g cold butter, diced

130g self-raising flour

2 tbsp chopped fresh parsley

50ml cold water

Salt and pepper

Heat the oil over a medium heat in a large oven proof lidded casserole dish. Cook the onion for a few minutes then tip in the stewing beef and turn a few times in the oil and onion. Add the garlic and flour, and then cook for a minute or two over a medium heat stirring well.

Add the celery, carrots, tinned tomatoes, tomato puree, Worchester sauce, stock, thyme and bay leaf. Bring to the boil and give everything a good stir. Cover and transfer to the oven and cook for 2-2½ hours or until the meat is tender.

While the stew is cooking make the dumplings. Place the butter in the bowl of the MUM mixer with the stirrer attached. Beat the butter for about 30 seconds on a low speed. Add the flour and season with salt and pepper. Mix on a low speed until the mixture resembles breadcrumbs. Remove the bowl from the mixer and using a blunt knife mix in the parsley and water. The dough should be soft but not sticky. Add a little more water if the mix looks dry.

With floured hands, form the dumplings into ping pong sized balls. If the stew looks dry add about 200ml water and stir well, before placing the dumplings on top of the stew. Put back the oven covered for 30 minutes for paler dumplings or with the lid off for a browner finish.

Serves
4

Preparation Time
20 minutes

Cooking Time
145 minutes

Main ingredients
Flour, Beef, Vegetables, Herbs

Recipe Type
Dinner, Family Dinners, Stew, One Pot

Cuisine
Irish

Special Info
Nut free

Level of Difficulty
Easy