How do I make a traditional Irish stew?
Preheat oven to 170C. * 700g middle neck of lamb, trimmed and cut into cutlets * 450g potatoes, peeled and sliced * 225g onions, peeled and sliced or left whole if small * 300ml water * 1 tablespoon fresh chopped parsley * 1 teaspoon dried thyme * Salt and pepper to season Trim fat and gristle from the cutlets then arrange layers of the meat and vegetables in a casserole dish, starting and ending with potatoes. Add seasoning and herbs to each layer then, finally, pour in the water and cover the casserole dish. Now bake the stew in a preheated oven for about 2 hours, or half an hour less if lamb chops are used. Before serving, make sure the meat is tender and the vegetables are soft. Garnish with parsley and serve straight from the dish with boiled cabbage. Traditional Irish Stew came about-as did most rural recipes-by using what was locally grown and therefore simplest to produce or buy. Sheep were reared in Ireland by peasants who also grew root vegetables to sustain themselves and th
