Leslie's Irish Stew

Prep time: 45 min
Cook time: 494 min
Servings: 10
Yield: 10 servings

Description

Lamb shoulder is simmered in a stout-beer broth with rutabagas, potatoes, cabbage, and carrots in this Irish stew made in the slow cooker.

Ingredients

1 1/2 quarts water
1 pound lamb shoulder blade chops
1 (12 fluid ounce) bottle Irish stout beer (such as Guinness®)
1 large onion, quartered
3 stalks celery, quartered
1 bunch parsley sprigs
10 sprigs fresh thyme, divided
4 cloves garlic, crushed
1 1/2 teaspoons salt
4 whole allspice berries
ground black pepper to taste
4 bay leaves, divided
1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
1 tablespoon dried savory
1 tablespoon garlic and herb seasoning blend (such as Mrs. Dash®)
1 pinch salt and ground black pepper to taste
4 pounds butterflied leg of lamb, trimmed and cut into cubes
3 tablespoons olive oil, or as needed
3 rutabagas, diced
4 potatoes, diced
1/2 small head cabbage, chopped
1 (16 ounce) package baby carrots
4 small onions, chopped
1 leek, thinly sliced
2 tablespoons minced fresh parsley
1 teaspoon garlic and herb seasoning blend (such as Mrs. Dash®)

Directions

1 Combine water, lamb chops, stout beer, large onion, celery, parsley sprigs, 5 sprigs thyme, garlic, 1 1/2 teaspoon salt, allspice, black pepper, and 3 bay leaves in a slow cooker to make broth.
2 Cook on High until flavors combine, about 4 hours. Let cool, at least 30 minutes. Place lamb chops in a resealable plastic bag. Strain broth into a bowl; discard solids. Refrigerate lamb chops and broth, 8 hours to overnight.
3 Combine flour, savory, 1 tablespoon garlic and herb seasoning, salt, and pepper in a brown paper bag. Add cubed lamb; shake until coated.
4 Heat 1 tablespoon olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add 1/3 cubed lamb; cook until browned, 1 to 2 minutes per side. Repeat with remaining olive oil and cubed lamb. Transfer browned lamb to the slow cooker.
5 Skim fat off the chilled broth and pour into the slow cooker. Trim and bone lamb chops; dice lamb meat and add to the slow cooker. Stir in remaining 5 sprigs thyme and bay leaf, rutabagas, potatoes, cabbage, baby carrots, and small onions.
6 Cook on High until lamb is tender, about 4 hours. Discard thyme sprigs and bay leaves. Stir in leek, chopped parsley, and 1 teaspoon garlic and herb seasoning. Cook until flavors combine, 2 to 3 minutes more.