🍀Traditional Irish Beef & Guinness Stew With A Creamy Potato Parsnip Mash🍀

2 tbsp vegetable oil 1kg stewing beef, cut into large chunks 1 onion, roughly chopped 10 carrots, cut into large chunks 2 tbsp plain flour 500ml can Guinness 1 beef stock cube pinch of sugar 3 bay leaves big thyme sprig Creamy parsnip mash: Boil 2lbs. peeled potatoes with 3 peeled, chopped parsnips for 15 mins until tender. Drain well, then mash with a large knob of butter and 4 tbsp crème fraîche or double cream. Season with salt and pepper and serve piping hot.

Heat oven to 160C/140C fan/gas 3. Heat the oil in large lidded casserole dish, brown the meat really well in batches, then set aside. Add the onion and carrots to the dish, give them a good browning, then scatter over the flour and stir. Tip the meat and any juices back into the dish and give it all a good stir. Pour over the Guinness and crumble in the stock cube. Season the stew with salt, pepper and a pinch of sugar. Tuck in the herbs and bring everything to a simmer.

Cover with a lid and place in the oven for about 2½ hrs until the meat is really tender. The stew can now be chilled and frozen for up to 3 months – defrost completely before reheating until piping hot. Leave the stew to settle a little, then serve with Creamy parsnip mash for a true celebration of winter vegetables.