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    Home / British / Irish Kitchen / Irish Stew

    Irish Stew

    Lamb shoulder or neck simmered gently with potatoes, onions, and carrots in a savory broth until the meat falls apart and the liquid turns rich and silky.

    ⏱ 25 minPrep time
    🔥 2 hrCook time
    🍽 6Servings
    🏷 British / Irish KitchenCategory
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    Lamb shoulder or neck simmered gently with potatoes, onions, and carrots in a savory broth until the meat falls apart and the liquid turns rich and silky. It’s the taste of a damp Irish afternoon, made warm and golden.

    Traditional Irish stew was a one-pot farmer’s supper built from the most affordable ingredients, and its beauty is still in its simplicity. Serve in deep bowls with crusty soda bread and plenty of black pepper.

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    Step by stepInstructions

    1. Season the lamb with salt and pepper. Heat the oil in a large Dutch oven over medium-high heat and brown the lamb in batches until deeply golden; set aside.
    2. Reduce the heat to medium, add the onions, and cook until soft, about 6 minutes.
    3. Layer half the potatoes in the pot, top with the lamb and carrots, then the remaining potatoes, tucking in the bay leaf and thyme.
    4. Pour in the broth and add enough water to just cover the potatoes. Bring to a simmer, cover, and cook gently for 1 1/2 hours.
    5. Uncover and simmer 30 minutes more, until the lamb is meltingly tender and the potatoes have partly dissolved into the broth. Stir gently.
    6. Remove the herbs, season to taste, scatter with parsley, and serve in deep bowls.

    💡 Chef tips & storage

    Letting some potatoes break down into the broth gives Irish stew its signature silky texture. It's even better the next day — the flavors settle beautifully overnight.

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    Recipe details

    Prep25 min
    Cook2 hr
    Servings6
    CategoryBritish / Irish Kitchen
    PublishedAugust 17, 2026
    Emily — the cook behind My Comfort Recipes

    Hi, I'm Emily 🧡

    Hi, I'm Emily — the cook behind My Comfort Recipes. Simple, tested comfort food for real weeknights, written down the way grandma would. Pull up a chair. More about me →

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