Irish Stew

Name: Irish Stew
Prep time: 20 min
Cook time: 120 min
Total time: 140 min
Yield: 6 servings
Cuisine: Ireland
Ingredients: 2.5 lbs lamb neck or shoulder, cubed; 4 large potatoes, chunked; 2 onions, sliced; 3 carrots, chunked; 4 cups lamb or beef stock; 2 sprigs thyme; 2 bay leaves; 2 tbsp chopped parsley

6 servings20 min prep120 min cookEasy Ireland

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The Story Behind It

The Tale of Irish Stew

Story updated September 17, 2026

Irish Stew, traditionally made with mutton or lamb, potatoes, and onions, became Ireland's national dish as potatoes rose to dominate the Irish diet in the years before the Great Famine. Documented since the early 19th century, it remains one of the clearest examples of how central the potato became to Irish cooking.

Ingredients

Scale:· 6 servings

2.5 lbs lamb neck or shoulder, cubed
4 large potatoes, chunked
2 onions, sliced
3 carrots, chunked
4 cups lamb or beef stock
2 sprigs thyme
2 bay leaves
2 tbsp chopped parsley

Instructions

1Layer lamb, onions, and carrots in a large pot.
2Add stock, thyme, and bay leaves, and bring to a simmer.
3Cover and cook gently 1.5 hours, skimming fat occasionally.
4Add potatoes and continue simmering 30-40 minutes until the potatoes are tender and thicken the stew slightly.
5Discard bay leaves and thyme stems.
6Season to taste and finish with chopped parsley before serving.

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