7 Hearty British Stew recipes

Warm the cockles with these stew recipes, the best cold weather comfort food dishes that Britain has to offer

At this time of year, we absolutely adore a hearty stew - it’s the ultimate autumn comfort food. Tender meat and vegetables simmered in broth and served with hunks of bread is the ultimate delicious, protein-packed dinner. These are seven of our favourite options, from a classic beef stew to an intriguing British take on a Tuscan veggie classic.

Hearty Beef & Beetroot Stew

This hearty beef stew recipe consists of braising steak (otherwise know as chuck beef) simmered slowly in beef stock. Cinnamon provides an aromatic sweetness, while the inclusion of beetroot lends this earthy stew a rich colour and depth of flavour. Perfect for cold winter nights.

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Irish Beef Stew with Dumplings

This traditional Irish beef stew is flavoured with dark stout, Worcestershire sauce and tomato puree. The beef chuck is tender after being cooked in a preheated oven, while the sauce has been imbued with extra flavour from the slow-cooking. There are also instructions to make dumplings, which are the perfect accompaniment!

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Tomato & Fennel Fish Stew with Garlic & Oregano Bread

Succulent fish cooked in a tomato sauce with 3 cloves of garlic, black pepper, chilli and fennel on a medium heat. Unlike some of the other stews, this one only needs to cook for 20 minutes to get a real depth of flavour into the fish sauce.

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Roast Chicken & Cider Stew

This dish combines two British classics - stew and roast chicken - to create a comforting dinner that’ll be an instant family favourite. Never mind garlic cloves - this recipe uses two entire bulbs, roasted in the oven, plus cider, cream, and fresh thyme for the ultimate cold weather comfort food!

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Lamb, Potato and Orange Stew

This comforting stew is lighter than some of the recipes on this list, with a white wine broth, aniseedy fennel, flat leaf parsley and orange zest to cut through the richness. These flavours pair perfectly with the tender lamb chops. Serve with some leafy greens on the side.

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Beer, Bread & Vegetable Stew

This vegetable and barley stew is made with chunks of leftover crusty bread, which are simmered in the sauce to help thicken it up and make it nice and creamy. Plenty of grated cheese and a tasty ale broth make this a fabulous veggie option for chilly nights.

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Gutsy Beef Stew with Polenta

Tender meat simmered in red wine for hours makes for a stew that delivers a big punch of flavours. It’s accompanied with cheesy polenta and leafy greens, and there’s also an optional gremolata (made of chopped fresh parsley leaves, garlic and lemon zest) to cut through the richness.

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