VEGAN BEEF (IRISH) STEW

Vegan Beef (Irish) Stew! A rich and flavorful plant-based stew that’s healthier, but just as tasty, as meat based stew. 

And just like that, an entire pot of vegan beef stew was gone. There were a few potatoes and carrots to pick out of the pan, and a few spoonfuls of broth to slurp, but the rest was happily tucked away in our bellies. No regrets, just pure satisfaction. That’s the wonderful thing about plant-based food, you can eat until your heart’s desire and not have room for guilt, because, why would you feel bad about eating potatoes, carrots, mushrooms, and a rich and savory broth?

It’s been years decades since I’ve eaten real beef stew. My mom’s was the best, but I was also known to open up a can of Dinty Moore and blast it in the microwave. Why? Thank God I’ve smartened up, but that didn’t mean that the flavors of one of my favorite comfort foods didn’t stick in the back of my mind. I’ve certainly craved the rich and savory broth that makes beef stew so delicious, and as the calendar got closer to St. Patrick’s Day I kept thinking of Irish stew, or beef stew. Same thing. Clearly, this needed to be veganized and shared.

When I think of plant foods that make good meat substitutes, mushrooms are always first on my list, especially Portobellos. They have a meaty texture, a nice umami flavor, and the perfect color—for those who demand meat in their bowl. Besides ditching the beef, everything else in this beef stew recipe stayed the same. Well actually, that’s not totally true, I swapped out beef broth for vegetable broth, and added more umami flavors, such as tamari, but besides those two things, everything else stayed the same.

Even though it’s been a long time since I’ve had beef stew, the memory of how it tasted didn’t escape me, and I was so pleased with the results. The aroma that wafted through my kitchen while it simmered reminded me of my childhood. I could almost hear the scrape of a fork against the pan as my dad secretly snuck a piece of potato. Funny enough, even my meat loving dad seemed to prefer the gravy soaked potatoes in this dish. I wish he was still with us so he could try my vegan version, I think he’d like it.

If you’re looking for something delicious, easy, and healthy to make for your St. Patrick’s Day dinner, this is it. Beef stew, also known as Irish stew, is absolutely perfect for the holiday. Make my green matcha cupcakes for dessert, and speak with an Irish accent (or not), and if you can find Guinness brewed in Australia –it’s vegan—you’ll have a full meal of all things Irish.

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