Family Irish Stew

Photo © MH

I love hearing about recipes which have been handed down through the generations, particularly when they're from your kith & kin.

My Celtic roots are hugely important to me & Nanna Bridie, (a woman of the West,) was a great guide in the kitchen for me, always.

More often than not, this wonderful lady would hum away as she presided over whatever was on the stove or in the oven. Both as a schoolgirl & as a budget-driven student, Bridie would be my comfort port of call in so many ways. To this day, she was the only person who managed to provide plates of food to fill the tum of my stepbrother. A feat no one had ever achieved before.

Bridie was also an aunt to a much-loved cousin of mine in Dublin & she holds her in equal esteem. There are regular menu conversations taking place between us. The most recent recipe swap came about on St Patrick's Day & it's from MH's Grandmother ..

Here it is .. including a secret ingredient ..

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From MH:

It's an easy but treacherous one as it can turn out quite bland. 

First secret is the best quality lamb chops.

Ok - here goes - my version of Irish Stew

8 best quality lamb chops

8 oz good quality diced lamb

2 onions roughly chopped

2 potatoes cut in large chunks

4 carrots cut into large chunks

2 parsnips cut into large chunks

1 leek finely sliced and sautéed separately

Some chopped pancetta

Pint lamb based stock

Dessertspoon of seasoned flour - Salt, white pepper (key ingredient)

Secret ingredient (can of Scotch Broth to keep celtic theme)

Sauté pancetta and lamb until brown

Remove from pan and sauté onion, carrots and parsnips

Return meat to pan. Shake it all about in seasoned flour

Add stock. Then the can of soup. Top up as necessary

Add in sautéed leek

Season with salt n white pepper and cook in a low oven until all is a lovely creamy mix with meat falling off the bone

Serve with baked potatoes and Guinness or your favourite wine 

Bon appetit xx

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Thank you MH .. xx

I shall be cooking this & thinking of Grandmothers.

There might even be humming as well.

It's a family thing.

AMM