Our musical adventures take us to Ireland – one of the warmest, most welcoming places in the world…as they say everyone wants to be Irish!
As people have been enjoying the SSO from home, we’ve been thrilled to see all of the watch parties you’re creating to enjoy the experience…and we’re sure that A Night in Dublin gives you all sorts of ideas from stew to green beer to Baileys!
So here’s our ideas for making the best of your night in for the SSO!
The Food!
There’s nothing quite so delicious as a home-cooked Irish country-style meal. Be sure to bring plenty of appetite for these staples of old-fashioned Irish cuisine.
We’re thrilled that O’Shea’s is helping us bring an authentic Irish meal to you, but if you want to give a go at making it yourself there is a lot of options for great Irish dishes.
You could try your hand at Champ, or a Shepherd’s Pie, or how about Gammon with Parsley Sauce, maybe even Colcannon!
But you can also dig into the quintessential Irish meal – a stew.
Nothing speaks comfort like a good beef stew. Variations of beef stew are found around the world and a few famous examples include France’s Boeuf Bourgignon, Hungary’s Goulash, and Belgium’s Carbonnade à la Flamande. For the Irish Stew let’s look at making a Guinness Beef Stew.
Nothing speaks comfort like a good beef stew. Variations of beef stew are found around the world and a few famous examples include F
As its name suggests, what sets Ireland’s beef stew apart from others is its inclusion of Guinness stout. The alcohol is evaporated as the simmers low and slow and you’re left with a deep and robust flavor with fork-tender beef, waxy potatoes and the sweetness of parsnips and carrots.
Beef & Guinness Stew is easy but there are a couple of steps that are absolutely imperative for the flavor. First and foremost: Brown the beef! Don’t be impatient and skip this step. It’s crucial. So take the time to brown the beef in batches, every last piece. Once you’ve done the browning followed by briefly sauteing the vegetables, you can transfer everything to a slow cooker if you prefer.
The other thing is this: Don’t throw out the browned beef bits in the bottom of the pan! That’s where a ton of the flavor is, caked onto the bottom of the pan. Leave it and deglaze (scrap off the browned bits) when you add the Guinness. If you follow those two steps and the rest of the recipe as follows, you’re going to have one amazing Irish Beef and Guinness Stew!
LET’S GET STARTED!
There’s no need to buy an expensive cut of beef for a beef stew that’s going to simmer for a long time. Get an inexpensive, well-marbled cut. You can ever go wrong with a chuck roast (what I’m using here).
Cut the beef across the grain into into 1-inch pieces. Sprinkle with some salt, pepper and the flour and toss to coat the pieces. Set aside.
NEXT: Fry the bacon in a Dutch oven or heavy pot until done then remove it with a slotted spoon, leaving the bacon drippings in the pan. (I’m using this Le Creuset Dutch oven but nearly as often use my Lodge Dutch oven which is a fraction of the cost.)
Working in batches and being careful not to overcrowd the pieces, generously brown the beef on all sides.
NEXT: Transfer the beef to a plate and repeat until all the beef is browned. Don’t wash out the pot when you’re done, leave the blackened bits on the bottom of the pot (that’s where a ton of flavor be!).
And then: Add the onions and fry them, adding more oil if necessary, until lightly browned, about 10 minutes. Add the garlic and cook for another minute. Add the vegetables and cook for another 5 minutes.
**At this point you can transfer everything to a slow cooker if you prefer. Follow the remaining steps and then cook on LOW for 6-8 hours or on HIGH for 3-4 hours**
- Add the Guinness and bring it to a rapid boil, deglazing the bottom of the pot (scraping up the browned bits on the bottom). Boil for 2 minutes.
- Return the beef and bacon to the pot along with the remaining ingredients. Stir to combine and bring to a boil.
- Reduce the heat to low, cover and simmer for 2 hours. Add salt and pepper to taste.
- Dish up the stew and enjoy it hot with some crusty country bread or Irish soda bread!
Take a picture of your stew and tag us on social media!
You could also try your hand at Cockles and Mussels! (we’re playing Molly Malone as part of the concert, so it does seem like a good choice!)
What to Drink!
Now. This is a loaded discussion topic.
Guinness is the drink that reigns supreme in Ireland. The dark dry stout dates back to 1759 where its brewing started in Dublin at St James’ Gate with its founder Arthur Guinness. If you ever get to Dublin, you have to take the tour of the brewery – it is a must see on your trip there!
We know that while Guinness is the ultimate Dublin thirst quencher, not everyone can hold their Guinness!
Thankfully Ireland has a wealth of beers that are available here at pretty much any liquor store, and there are a number of local stouts as well!
You should also pick out an Irish Whiskey or two!
Many have fought over which is the best Irish Whiskey…and we wonder why bother picking when you can enjoy them all in time.
End you evening with some Bailey’s on ice. There are all sorts of ways to enjoy an Irish Creme, but nothing beats enjoying it uninterrupted, silky and smooth like the SSO’s strings!
We hope you have a great night with the SSO in Dublin!