Irish Beef Stew - with Keto Options - Instant Pot Recipe - Life Made Sweeter (2024)

FAQs

How to make beef stew sweeter? ›

If it tastes off-balance, add some finishing flavors to bring it to the next level. Try adding soy sauce or Worcestershire for extra savory (or umami) flavor, a touch of honey or brown sugar for sweetness, lemon zest or vinegar for brightness or chili powder or smoked paprika for spice and depth.

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.

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

The best way to ensure your beef is tender in your Instant Pot stew is to braise it (aka pan sear it first, then let it stew).

Add the wine and tomato paste to the onions and other aromatics in a pan before slow cooking. Plus, this helps to really deglaze any fond that's left. This ingredient is one that your mum and nan would probably use in their stews. It adds a bit of tang, sweetness and savoury spices that give an extra punch of flavour.

Add spices such as turmeric, coriander and cumin at the early stage of cooking, when you are frying onions and garlic, to enhance the taste of the beef stew. Fresh herbs like coriander and bay leaves also contribute a distinct flavour without making the dish too spicy for the younger members of the family.

The origins of Irish stew are somewhat shrouded in mystery, but it's believed to have originated in the 17th or 18th century. At that time, the dish was often made by shepherds and rural farmers who had access to only a few ingredients but needed a nourishing meal to sustain them through long days of work.

The famous Irish stew made with lamb, carrots, potatoes and onion was frequently featured on menus for third-class passengers on the Titanic. The stew would be consumed as part of the passengers' high tea, which was their second and final meal of the day.

The flour helps to thicken a stew as it cooks. Whisk a teaspoon of flour in a little cold water to make a slurry, then stir into the stew as it's cooking. Don't add dry flour directly to the stew as it may clump. After adding the slurry, bring the stew to boil.

How do you deepen the flavor of stew? ›

If you want to add a little more sweetness, add a couple of teaspoons of sugar to the Mirepoix before baking - it helps to caramelise the vegetables. If that doesn't appeal, add some halved cherry tomatoes to the Mirepoix mix before baking and add a good tablespoon of tomato puree to the stew before cooking.

You should never throw your raw cubes of beef into the stew pot. You must sear the cubes first in a pan to brown them and begin building that rich flavor. It's important not to brown them too lightly—sear them until there's a dark crust on each side of the meat cubes.

You'll have greyish tender meat in your stew that is lacking in flavor. If you CAN'T brown it first, and plan to, say, put everything in a crockpot ot slowcooker so you'll have food (and the smell of cooking!)

Consider Adding Flour

Melvin also recommends dusting the meat in seasoned flour before browning it. The flour will add body to the dish and help thicken up the sauce that comes together while the ingredients cook low and slow.

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.

Using sugar for flavor balance is easiest in dishes where it can seamlessly dissolve and be adjusted on the fly, often right before serving, though you can taste throughout cooking as well. At the top of my list would be sauces, stews, soups and salad dressings.

Stews are well-known for their salty and savory flavors. Adding a little sugar can help balance out those flavors, but it is easy to add too much.