Guinness Beef Stew Recipe (2024)

FAQs

Why is my beef and Guinness stew bitter? ›

Why is my Guinness stew bitter? Stouts are known for their bitterness. That is why we add a little bit of brown sugar to the stew, to bring a little sweetness to balance the overall flavor of the dish! If it's still too bitter for you, you can increase the amount of sugar.

This Guinness beef stew is a very simple dish, but at the same time, it has a deep, complex, rich flavor. The maltiness of dark beer really does amazing things for the gravy. I served this in a nice ring of green onion-mashed potatoes.

The main difference between an Irish stew and classic beef stew comes down to the protein. Traditional Irish stew is usually made with lamb, while beef stew is always made with beef. Our version includes beef chuck, which is less traditional, but easy to make and equally delicious.

Arguably Guinness works best with rich food, with the flavours enhanced by the roasted bitterness of the stout, and why it has become such a potent combination partner to certain foods, such as dark chocolate, oysters, and beef stew.

Naturally sweet ingredients, like onions, carrots, and tomato paste work to balance some of the bitterness.

Spices mask bitter flavors, so don't be shy. Add some spicy peppers or powders to your cooking, or sprinkle some onto your dishes for a little bit of extra heat. Black pepper in particular has compounds that counteract bitterness. Some other great spices include cayenne, red pepper, paprika, and chili powder.

Go for the chuck

The most common beef used for stew is chuck steak, also known as gravy beef or braising steak. Beef chuck comes from the forequarter of the animal consisting of parts of the neck, shoulder blade and upper arm. It is easy to find and it's affordable, making it a great choice for your stew.

Guinness Stout or Extra Stout produces a dark, rich, flavorful sauce for your marinade that is also an effective meat tenderizer.

Wheat beers are great for chicken and seafood. If you're cooking pork, beef, and lamb, you will need ales, porters, and stouts. Hearty meat goes well with belgian ales. Stews pair well with ale.

Flour: I typically use all-purpose flour to thicken the sauce. But you can alternately make a cornstarch slurry (with equal parts cold water and cornstarch whisked together) and add it to the simmering broth until it reaches your desired thickness.

Can you overcook beef stew in a slow cooker? ›

Can you overcook beef stew in a slow cooker? Yes, you can overcook the beef. You're looking for fork-tender meat, not dry and tough. You can always use the machine's warming setting if needed to avoid overcooking the meat.

Red potatoes don't absorb liquids very well and Russets fall apart with prolonged cooking. Yukon Gold are perfect because they don't require peeling, they keep their shape, and they cook to be creamy and flavorful.

The usual reason you hear for Guinness being suggested in pregnancy is that it's a great source of iron. Iron is needed for the production of red blood cells and during pregnancy a mother-to-be needs 50% more than iron than usual (27mg per day compared to 18mg).

It's rich in collagen, high in protein and iron and a good source of Vitamin B12. You can't get a more comforting dish than this stew. 350g portion is appropriate for a healthy & active adult with a good appetite or two young kids to share.

What Kinds of Beer Go in Irish Stew. And none of this is to dismiss the notion of Guinness stew, which is delicious. But one could use any type of malty beer such as a porter, a different type of stout, or even a milder type of ale in chili – anything that works with the bolder flavor of beef.

Hops is a plant (related to hemp), and is responsible for the bitterness of the beer. The more hops the more bitter the beer.

Some smoked meat tends to become bitter because of the formation of a substance known as creosote. Creosote is a rather thick and oily coating that covers the meat when smoking has gone on for too long.

Roasted barley contributes to the beer's characteristic dark colour and unique taste. Hops: These give bitterness to balance the sweetness of the malt and act as a natural preservative.

A bitter aftertaste in meat could indicate a few different things. Overcooking meat, especially poultry, can produce compounds that leave an unpleasant taste. Certain cuts like organ meats may have a natural underlying flavor some find bitter.