Chef John's Irish Pork Stew

Chef John's pork stew served with mashed potatoes features cubed pork shoulder and Brussels sprouts simmered in dark beer flavored with caraway seed.

• Preparation Time: 25 mins
• Cooking Time: 2 hr 25 mins
• Total Time: 2 hr 50 mins
• Calories: 401 Calories

Ingredients

• 1 tablespoon butter
• 1 tablespoon vegetable oil
• 1 tablespoon all-purpose flour
• 1 large onion, chopped
• 1 bay leaf
• salt and ground black pepper to taste
• 2 cloves garlic, minced
• 2 cups chicken broth
• 3 tablespoons balsamic vinegar
• 3 carrots, cut into 1-inch pieces
• 2 stalks celery, cut into 1-inch pieces
• 1 (2 1/2 pound) boneless pork shoulder, cut into 2-inch cubes
• 1 (12 fluid ounce) bottle dark beer (such as Guinness®)
• 12 Brussels sprouts, halved
• 3 cups mashed potatoes, or as needed
• 0.25 cup chopped fresh flat-leaf parsley
• 0.75 teaspoon caraway seed
• 1 teaspoon chopped fresh flat-leaf parsley, for garnish

Recipe Instructions

Step 1

Season pork with salt and black pepper.

Step 2

Heat oil in a large pot over high heat. Working in batches, cook and stir pork in hot oil until browned on all sides, 5 to 10 minutes. Transfer pork to a bowl.

Step 3

Melt butter in the same pot over medium heat. Cook and stir onion in hot butter with a pinch of salt until onion is softened and translucent, 7 to 10 minutes. Add garlic; sauté until fragrant, about 30 seconds.

Step 4

Stir flour into onion mixture; cook and stir until flour is completely incorporated, about 2 minutes. Add bay leaf and caraway seed; cook for 2 minutes more. Pour in beer. Cook and stir until thickened, 1 to 3 minutes.

Step 5

Stir browned pork, broth, carrots, and celery into beer mixture; bring to a simmer. Stir 1/4 cup parsley and balsamic vinegar into stew; reduce heat to medium-low and simmer until pork is fork-tender, about 2 hours.

Step 6

Meanwhile, bring a large pot of lightly salted water to a boil. Cook Brussels sprouts in boiling water until almost tender, about 5 minutes. Drain.

Step 7

Stir Brussels sprouts into stew and simmer until heated through, about 5 minutes. Season with salt and pepper.

Step 8

Divide mashed potatoes between 6 bowls. Ladle stew over potatoes and garnish with 1 teaspoon parsley.