Guinness Beef Stew

Ingredients

• 3-4 lbs chuck eye steak or pork shoulder, cubed
• 2 tbs bacon grease
• 2 large onions, chopped
• 1 stalk celery, chopped
• 1-2 Jalapenos, minced
• 2 cloves of garlic, minced
• 2 tbs tomato paste
• ¼ C flour
• 2 tsp Colman’s dry mustard
• 3 C chicken or vegetable broth
• 16 oz Guinness or Shiner
• 1 tsp Marmite
• 1 tsp thyme
• 1½ tbs brown sugar
• 1½ tsp salt
• 1 tsp pepper
• 1 lb carrots, peeled and chopped
• 1½ lbs Yukon gold potatoes, peeled and chopped

Directions

1. Prep Oven & Meat: Preheat oven to 325°F. Season cubed chuck steak with salt and pepper.
2. Brown Meat: Melt bacon drippings over medium-high heat. Brown meat in batches to avoid crowding, adding more drippings if needed. Remove browned meat to a bowl.
3. Cook Vegetables: Add onions, celery, garlic, and tomato paste to the pot. Cook until vegetables soften and begin to brown, adding more bacon drippings if the pot becomes dry.
4. Build Stew: Stir in flour, then add chicken broth, thyme, brown sugar, Marmite, salt, pepper, and ½ C Guinness. Return meat to the pot, stir well, and cook uncovered in the oven 1½ hrs.
5. Add Vegetables: After 1½ hrs, add carrots and potatoes. Return to the oven and cook 45 minutes more.
6. Finish: During the final 15 minutes, add remaining Guinness. Total oven time is ~3 hours.
7. Season & Serve: Finish with 1 tsp Cajun seasoning and an optional splash of apple cider vinegar. Serve hot.

Chef's Notes

• Pork shoulder is a good substitute.
• Peas, green beans, and mushrooms all work well as additions.
  • Green beans: Add with the potatoes.
  • Mushrooms: Sauté first, then add with the potatoes.
  • Peas: Add at the very end to preserve color and texture.

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