Author: Vegan Irish Stew! Perfect for St. Patrick's Day. Hearty vegetables in a rich, earthy, thick stout beer broth. It's a stick to your ribs kinda stew! This Vegan Irish Stew is just so many good things in a bowl it will make your stomach smile. So dang hearty, I'm pretty much obsessed with the mixture of chunky vegetables in the rich stout based broth. Eeeerrrrrrrrk! ~Record scratch~ I'm sorry, did I say stout, as in beer? Yes, yes I did.
Irish stew is traditionally a lamb stew made with Guinness stout beer. Obviously, lamb isn't vegan, but now Guinness is vegan!! Believe it or not, the people at Guinness announced they changed their 250+ year recipe to make it vegan! Is that a sign of the times or what!?
Back to the broth: The stout beer in this recipe gives the broth rich, thick, and deep earthy tones. The alcohol gets cooked out, and the end result tastes wonderful. Seriously, good things are happening in my kitchen today.
If you don't like Guinness, you can use the handy-dandy Vegaholic app or check out Barnivore online to find a vegan-friendly stout you love.
This Vegan Irish Stew is the perfect way to celebrate St. Patrick's day, or really any day that you want a warm rich stew. Serve it with a crusty loaf of bread or a soda bread for cleaning up every last bit of broth and you have yourself one mighty fine meal! It's a good thing. 😉
To Make Vegan Irish Stew:
Gather up all your hearty veggie goodness. Omnomnom.
Chop up all the veggies into chunky pieces because this stew is all about rustic chunks of veggie deliciousness... and beer... but we'll get to that shortly.
Sauté the celery, onion, and garlic in the olive oil, until the onion becomes translucent and just begin to brown. Now sprinkle in the flour. Stir well to coat the veggies, and cook for another minute to heat up the flour. Add the vegetable broth, and scrape the bottom of the pan with your spoon to get any bits off the bottom.
Add in all of the remaining veggies, tomato paste, spices, and the beer! (See, I told you we would get to that part). It will probably foam and do beer-like things, but that's ok, the bubbles and alcohol will cook right out.
Bring to a simmer and cook for about 10 - 15 minutes until the veggies are fork-tender, but not mushy. The stew will be very thick. If you prefer a thinner stew, feel free to thin it out to taste with 1 to 2 more cups of vegetable broth.
Common Questions:
Is Guinness vegan friendly?
Yes, Guinness is 100% vegan!! No animal products have been used in its brewing or filtering, or as ingredients since 2018.
What should I serve with stew?
Be sure to make sure the ingredients are vegan but a nice crusty loaf, soda bread, or dinner roll is the perfect companion to a hearty stew.
Bon Appetegan!
Sam Turnbull
(click stars to vote)
Vegan Irish Stew
Servings: (makes about 1.5L)
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Ingredients
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 2 ribs celery, chopped
- 1 yellow onion, chopped
- 4 cloves garlic, minced
- ¼ cup all-purpose flour
- 2 - 4 cups vegetable broth
- 1 can (473ml) vegan stout beer
- 3 carrots, peeled and cut into chunks
- 2 parsnips, peeled and cut into chunks (optional)
- 8 oz mushrooms, quartered
- 2 ½ cups baby potatoes, halved (or about 2 regular potatoes and cut into chunks)
- ½ cup tomato paste
- 2 bay leaves
- 2 teaspoons brown sugar
- 1 teaspoon dried thyme leaves
- ¾ teaspoon salt
- ½ teaspoon ground pepper
Instructions
- Please note that some people find this recipe bitter. I love the bitter taste, but if you do not like bitter flavors here are my tips: try using less tomato paste to start, adding more later to taste if desired. Make sure you use a beer you like the flavor of, if you don't like it before it goes in the soup, you won't like it in the soup. You can start with less beer to taste or replace the beer completely with a vegan beefless broth. If you find the finished soup too bitter try adding fat such as 1 - 2 tablespoons olive oil, or vegan butter and some sweetness such as 1 - 2 tablespoons brown or white sugar, agave, or maple syrup.
- Heat a large pot over medium-high heat. Add the olive oil, and when hot add in the celery, onion, and garlic. Sauté until the onion becomes translucent and just begins to brown about 5 minutes.
- Sprinkle in the flour. Stir well to coat the veggies, and cook for another minute to heat up the flour. Add 2 cups of vegetable broth, and scrape the bottom of the pan with your spoon to get any bits off the bottom. Add in the beer, all of the remaining veggies, tomato paste, and spices. The beer will foam up, but that’s ok, the bubbles and alcohol will cook right out.
- Bring to a simmer and cook for 10 – 15 minutes until the veggies are fork-tender, but not mushy. The stew will be very thick! If you prefer a thinner stew, feel free to thin it out to taste with 1 to 2 more cups of vegetable broth. Remove bay leaves before serving, and enjoy hot. Allow leftovers to cool and store covered in the fridge for up to 5 days.
Notes
Nutrition
⭐ Did You Make This Recipe?
I’d love if you left a rating and comment, it helps others find the recipe and makes my day! 💕Bon appetegan!
Sam.
Inge says
What would you recommend if i want to put tofu or seitan in the stew?
Or does someone have another idea?
Greetings
Sam Turnbull @ It Doesn't Taste Like Chicken says
Hi Inge! Tofu or seitan both work great, just sauté first so they get nice flavor, then stir in at the end so they don’t overcook. Enjoy! 😊
Susan says
Yum! Perfect for this cold weather. Hardy and delicious. Thank you
Sam Turnbull @ It Doesn't Taste Like Chicken says
So happy you enjoyed it Susan!
Jenny says
Absolutely delicious. I only used half can of stout based on your comment about bitterness and this was great for us. Definitely an entertainer !!!
Sam Turnbull @ It Doesn't Taste Like Chicken says
Yay! SO thrilled you loved it Jenny!!
Marie says
This is one of my favorite go-to recipes! Sometimes I get crazy with the seasoning and it becomes super rich--this last time I made it, I toned it down and it was perfect (I did add a bit of garlic and onion powder). I agree with another comment, the cook time for the veggies is usually not enough for me. I boil the potatoes and carrots separately as I bring everything else together (and I cook the onion and celery longer as well). I get them fork-tender or almost fork-tender so that once I add them to the stew base, the ~15 minutes of simmering gives them the perfect texture!
Jess @ It Doesn't Taste Like Chicken says
Thanks for sharing your tips, Marie!
Judy says
The stew is very good. I've made it a few times. But this time the advertisements cover up the recipe & it's nearly impossible to read it all at once. I would give it a 5 star if that hadn't occurred. Very frustrating!
Jess @ It Doesn't Taste Like Chicken says
Sorry your browser is showing you so many ads. If you click on "Print" Recipe it should open a clearer version for you.
Judy says
Thank you! I will try that next time.
Bambi says
Quick question... Getting ready to try this. I'm assuming the flour is for thickening. I prefer using ground Chia for that.
Can you confirm the flour is mostly for thickening?
AndiCooks says
I made this today and reduced the tomato paste as suggested. I used a Guinness beer recommended by Trader Joe's. I tasted the beer before adding, and it had a relatively mild taste. To me, the stew tastes extremely bitter once it hits the back of the tongue. The only sub I made was maple syrup instead of brown sugar. Would this make a big difference?
Sam Turnbull @ It Doesn't Taste Like Chicken says
Hi AndiCooks, the maple syrup should be fine, but please review the note in step one of the recipe, it explains all about the bitterness, and how to adjust for your own taste preferences 🙂
Eliz says
I’m cooking it now and it’s tasty thank you
Sam Turnbull @ It Doesn't Taste Like Chicken says
So happy you enjoy!
Kelly says
Delicious even without the beer. We do not drink Guinness - let’s just say it messes with our stomaches. We have made this stew minus the beer and it is perfect. The only problem is the time it takes to cook. There’s no way 35-45 minutes cooked the vegetables. I have to cook it 2-3 hours for the vegetables to cook. I’ve even tried simmering for 45 and boiling for 45 but still not done! This takes around 3 hours for the carrots and parsnips to be tender. This stew is absolutely delicious with the Amish bread I made this morning. A very hearty, satisfying meal!!
Jess @ It Doesn't Taste Like Chicken says
We're glad you liked the stew! Some varieties of vegetables can take longer but we're glad you stuck with it!
Becks says
I don't comment much but this recipe is amazing and one of my favourite meals to make. Thank you for sharing it.
Jess @ It Doesn't Taste Like Chicken says
That makes us so happy to hear!
Gemini says
I made this almost exactly as written - except added fresh thyme in addition to dried thyme, and reduced tomato paste to 1/4 cup. I used NA Guinness (and drank a few while I was cooking too LOL) This was GREAT!! One of my favorite recipes I've made from this site.
Served with vegan soda bread and vegan butter!
Sam Turnbull @ It Doesn't Taste Like Chicken says
Oh that's awesome! I am so thrilled you love it so much! Thank you so much Gemini! 🙂
Alex C. says
I made this mostly as written, though I added some cabbage leaves and seitan chunks. The stew was very good, and my wife liked it, too. I'm confused about why some people say it's bitter. The stout does add a small amount of bitterness, but nothing crazy.
When I make this the next time, I'll add a bit more thyme and garlic (for added flavor), and reduce the amount of tomato paste.
Sam Turnbull @ It Doesn't Taste Like Chicken says
Hi Alex, so happy you enjoyed it. Love the addition of cabbage and seitan! Yum! I agree, I don't find it too bitter, but everyones tastes are different. 🤷♀️
Mark says
Cheers ALEX I will try your mix
Matt says
Can this be made in a slowcooker?
Amie says
I don't see why not? Someone else seems to have made it in a pressure cooker/instant pot. So I assume you could easily make this in a slow cooker.
Sam Turnbull @ It Doesn't Taste Like Chicken says
Hi Matt, Yes, you can make this in a slow cooker! Add everything to the slow cooker (sautéing the onion, celery, and garlic first for extra flavor if desired), use 2 cups of broth to start, and cook on low for 6–8 hours or high for 3–4 hours. Adjust consistency at the end with more broth if needed. Enjoy!
DannyBoy says
Very good! Not bitter to my household’s taste buds. Had Guinness NA on-hand and it worked great. Thanks for the recipe!
Sam Turnbull @ It Doesn't Taste Like Chicken says
So thrilled you loved it!
Carol Salyers says
I'm getting ready to have it now but had a sampling. Yummy! Changes - I used about 2/3 of the bottle of a lighter oatmeal stout and added some agave syrup to offset any bitterness. To please carnivore family members, I added two "Eat Meati" (mushroom-based) steaks to it. Otherwise, followed the recipe. Otherwise, I followed the recipe. Having it on St. Patty's Day to celebrate! Serving it with sourdough baguette. Thank you for another wonderful recipe!
Sam Turnbull @ It Doesn't Taste Like Chicken says
Sounds perfect! So happy you enjoyed it Carol!
Laura says
I just made this for tonight’s St. Patrick’s Day dinner. After reading your tips and lots of reviews, I made the following adjustments:
- I left out the parsnips and used more carrots/celery
- I used 2 tablespoons of tomato paste instead of 1/2 cup
- I used Sam Adam’s nonalcoholic beer instead of Guinness (not a fan)
- Cooked it in the Instant Pot set for 8 minutes - NPR
- Tossed in a handful of petite peas
It’s tasting so good. Can’t wait to have it tonight with some crusty bread!
Thank you for this recipe and taking the time to add the tips for a less bitter stew!
Sam Turnbull @ It Doesn't Taste Like Chicken says
So thrilled you enjoyed it Laura! Thank you for shairng your tweaks 🙂
Alison says
I made this last St Patrick's Day and it was really good! This year I'm going to try adding soy curls (to satisfy the meat-eaters in the family). Thank you for another great recipe, Sam!
Sam Turnbull @ It Doesn't Taste Like Chicken says
Oh I love that idea! So happy you love my recipes!! 🙂
Melissa says
Good stew but boy, did it turn out bitter! I should have reduced the amount of tomato paste as noted, but I typically don’t mind bitter. When you follow the recipe, it turns out very bitter. We ended up adding some agave syrup and olive oil to try to correct it, which helped, but next time would use way less tomato paste.
Sam Turnbull @ It Doesn't Taste Like Chicken says
Hi Melissa, yes please follow the notes mentioned in step 1 so that you get the desired outcome. 🙂
Barb says
We had a can of Bud Light that needed to be used up, so I searched recipes that contain beer and chose this one. I didn't have parsnips, so added extra carrots.
The stew is delicious!
Sam Turnbull @ It Doesn't Taste Like Chicken says
That’s such a fun way to use it up, Barb! 🍺 Extra carrots sound perfect—so glad you enjoyed the stew.
Alan says
My wife and I don't like beer, my wife can't have tomato or too much pepper or garlic, and I need to watch sodium. We omitted the beer, tomato, and pepper, reduced the garlic, and made a batch of Mark Bittman's Mushroom Stock [https://cooking.nytimes.com/recipes/1017137-mark-bittmans-mushroom-stock] instead of a commercial stock.
Next time, we will add half a pound of white beans [soaked and cooked in advance]. We will also cut the parsnips in smaller chunks.
Sam Turnbull @ It Doesn't Taste Like Chicken says
I'm so happy you enjoyed it and were able to adjust it to suit your needs. 🙂
Jay Dorman says
This is one of my favorite recipes ever! It's a staple and love to make it for other people too.
Sam Turnbull @ It Doesn't Taste Like Chicken says
Yay! I am so happy you love it Jay! Thank you for the review 🙂
VeggieT8r says
Thanks Sam, this was so comforting and yummy, I'm so glad I made a huge pot! I had to make a few minor subs based on stuff I didn't have on hand, and as usual added lots of extra veggies and omitted the oil. Since this was "Irish stew" after all, I was compelled to add some diced cabbage, and also added Irish steel cut oats to give it body, instead of flour. This will definitely be on repeat!
Sam Turnbull @ It Doesn't Taste Like Chicken says
I'm so thrilled you loved it so much! Thanks for the review 🙂
Robert Henderson says
it's not an Irish Stew. it's uses a great Irish ingredient, Guiness. But very much tastier and more delicious than a traditional Irish Stew.
Sam Turnbull @ It Doesn't Taste Like Chicken says
Appreciate the note, Robert! Totally fair, this one’s more of a Guinness-inspired comfort stew than a traditional Irish classic 🍻