Beef stew & Crispy Dumplings

How to make a delicious beef stew with beer and crispy dumplings.

Beef Stew
2lb / 1kg Beef
½ltr / 1 pint Beef Stock / beef stock cubes can be used
½ltr / 1 pint Strong Brown Ale or Stout
2 Large Carrots
1 small turnip or swede
1 Large Leek
1 Large Onion
4 Cloves of Garlic
½ tsp Dried Thyme
¼ tsp Freshly Ground Pepper
½ tsp Salt
100g / 3½oz Plain Flour / All Purpose Flour
2 heaped tsp of Corn flour or corn starch mixed with 150g of cold water

Dumplings
300g / 10½oz Self- Raising Flour
2tsp Baking Powder (if you are using Plain or All Purpose Flour use 4 tsp of Baking Powder)
175g / 6oz of full cream or semi skimmed Milk
60g / 2oz of butter
100g / 3½oz Beef or vegetable suet
1 Large Egg
100g / 3½oz Finely Chopped Leek

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Thank You

Music used in this video
Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0

Lazy River Rag
By Dan Lebowitz

Lazy Afternoon Sun
By Dan Lebowitz

Birds in Flight
By Dan Lebowitz

[thevalleygate]

I made this last night for tea and it was delicious. To make it even better I had the carrots, turnips, thyme and onions growing in my garden. And my neighbour down the road had given me a topside roast a few weeks ago for giving him a crate of tomatoes that I had left over from the summer harvest. All up this was a delicious meal that I was able to make for very little $$$, and most of the ingredients came from the farm.

[allielucas]

You sound like Winnie the Pooh, and I absolutely love it 😍

[anthonydixon]

Just had dumplings in a stew following your dumpling recipe, just had to comment to say how fantastic they were. Easy to follow instructions and the recipe was perfect. My better half's first comment on tasting one of the dumplings was "Oh my God!!!". Yes they were that good. Thank you and please keep posting.

[Chris-lzfs]

Looks lovely! There's nothing like good old fashioned, down to earth, traditional meals.

[ronrolfe]

Food from my childhood, my mum used to make a beautiful dumpling stew, thanks John for bringing it all back to me.

[jeanettecook]

I made this recipe for supper tonight. I'm recovering from a weeks-long illness in which I could not eat much. Today was the first day I could take normal amounts of solid foods. I can't tell you how good this was for me, how great it was to taste comfort food again! --the combination of ingredients blends superbly during oven baking. This was my first time making crispy dumplings... and they came out well...so I want to thank you very much for this stew-pendous dish! 👏👏👏🏞💥💥💥

[fidelogos]

I'm from the southern USA. I've made similar beef stew many times but served it with cornbread. I'm intrigued by the crispy dumplings and will try that next stew I make. Thanks for explaining it so well, especially with the measurements. We use pounds, ounces, cups, and teaspoons.

[shanedrotzursplace]

I think I'm in love with this man. This is my style. Cozy food is the best food in cold climate.

[lidiakaliniewicz]

I love this. After near death illness ive gone back to what i rememer from my 2 grandmothers and some from grandpa who was 104 when died. Im 48 years old. The old recipes made me healthy. Doc in hospital said its a miracle. There you go.

[stevelee]

The last time I saw something as yummy was my mums 45 year ago bless her well done

[sleepy]

Just used the dumpling recipe for first time. Never going back to store bought packs. Thank you

[johnboytd]

This looks absolutely gorgeous! I must have been a kid when I last had dumplings! I'm 58 now!! Keep up your tasty recipes!!

[annearmstrong]

You are without doubt a National Treasure John. I dont even bother looking at cook books now I've found you. Gave all my Delia books to the charity shop along with Jamie whatshisname who went bust ? You knock spots off every last one.

[HaggisMuncher--]

I made this in the slow cooker and it literally brought tears to my eyes.
I don't know if anyone else has tried something that tastes so good and wholesome that it kind of makes you emotional for a moment.

[almaflores]

This is the best beef and dumpling stew I've seen so far.

[rudlterranigma]

I have watched and cooked this recipe years ago, but keep coming back every autumn when the weather gets cold outside to rewatch. Great clip!

[danielspencer]

Making this again for our St. Patrick's day dinner. I have a hard time finding suet, so I've substituted vegetable shortening in place of it and they still turn out great. I also use potatoes instead of the turnip. This is hands down the best beef stew I've ever made!

[gregdobson]

Thanks John, every time I make dumplings, I form them into a ball in my hand which of course Compacts the dumplings . No wonder they turn out hard . Your method is so much better . I have been making dumplings the Wrong way for 65 yrs. Well they do say you are never too old to learn . One question John, I like to add some Strong Chedder to the dumplings should I reduce the Suet and fats if I use cheese .

[mistypatton]

I love that you don't poke fun of us Americans about not using the metric system. You just state both types of measurement and go on. Lovely job. Thank you for that.

[mattploij]

hey john. i just have to say i made this a few weeks ago and it was astonishing how well it turned out, especially for a first go. did it again this week and it turned out great again. have never found so many recepies that work so well, so easily. took me a few goes to get the baguettes right, but now i have then turning out well. the pork pies are another recipe which turned out oh so well first try with my meagre cooking skills. thankyou for explaing everything so clearly. my great grandparents emigrated from northern england/south scotland in the 30's, so it's good to finally be eating some of the recepies from my heritage, i do have some of my great grannys diary and she does mention things like pork pies, gravy and stews about 800 times. the family has been down under for almost 100 years, and with the modern age and its emphasis on fast food, dieting and artificial produce, i feel like that without people like you handing these down, they will eventually be lost to time. even suet isn't all that common around these parts, but i did find some. there are 500 diet cheese options though... thanks again.