Beef braised in beer with classic English suet dumplings served with buttery mash
Ingredients
- 2 tbsp plain flour, seasoned with salt and freshly ground black pepper
- 1kg/2lb 3oz braising steak, cut into 5cm/2in pieces
- 55g/2oz unsalted butter
- 150g/5½ oz smoked streaky bacon, cut into 1cm/¼in dice
- 2 onions, peeled and thinly sliced
- 1 sprig thyme
- 1 bay leaf
- 650ml/23fl oz Irish stout, such as Guinness
- 80g/3oz stoneless prunes cut in half
- 80g/3oz pickled walnuts, sliced
- 4 tsp balsamic vinegar
- 4 tsp soft dark brown sugar
- 2 tsp Dijon mustard
- 500ml/10½fl oz beef stock
- salt and freshly ground black pepper
For the suet dumplings
- 235g/8oz plain flour
- 120g/4oz shredded suet
- 80g/3oz fine white breadcrumbs
- 2 tsp parsley, chopped
- 2 tsp chives, chopped
- salt and freshly ground white pepper
- 500ml/17fl oz beef stock
For the Mashed potato
- 1kg/2¼lb floury potatoes, peeled, washed and cut into 2.5cm/1in chunks
- salt and ground white pepper
- 85g/3oz unsalted butter
- 225ml/8fl oz semi-skimmed milk, warmed
Method
Preheat oven to 140C/285F/Gas 1.
Place the flour and meat in a polythene bag and shake to coat the meat.
Heat half the butter in a deep casserole and fry the meat until golden and crusty all over. Remove the meat and set aside.
Add the remaining butter to the same pan and fry the bacon until crispy. Add the onions, thyme and bay leaves and cook until the onion has softened. Add any remaining flour and stir to combine.
Pour in the Guinness and stir vigorously.
Return the beef to the pan; stir to combine, add remaining ingredients and bring to the boil.
Cover the casserole with a lid and place in the oven.
Cook for at least four hours (or preferably overnight) until the meat is very tender.
For the suet dumplings, combine the first five ingredients, mixing well. Work to a paste with cold beef stock, adding just enough to bind all the ingredients. Season to taste.
Heat the remaining beef stock in a saucepan and bring to the boil. Shape the paste into 2cm/¾in dumplings and drop them into boiling beef stock. Cook until light and puffed up. This should take about 30 minutes.
Remove from the stock and add to your beef casserole.
For the mashed potato, simmer the potatoes in salted water for 12-15 minutes. Drain, then put the colander over the pan on a low heat for two minutes to dry the potatoes.
Return the potatoes to the saucepan with a pinch of salt and ground white pepper and mash until smooth.
Fold in the butter and warm milk and beat until combined. Check seasoning.
Serve the beef and dumplings with a dollop of mashed potato.
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