This one-pot, hearty Vegan Irish Stew is so flavourful and can be made on the stove, in an Instant Pot, or in a slow cooker. Vegan-friendly Guinness gives an incredibly rich, deep flavour to the gravy that is loaded with chunky, sweet, tender vegetables. Make it with just the veg, or add some optional vegan “meat” or mushrooms to make it even more satisfying and flavourful!
Table of Contents
Recipe Video
Jump to:
- Recipe Video
- What is Irish Stew?
- Is Irish Stew Vegan?
- Is Guinness Vegan?
- Ingredients
- How to Make Vegan Irish Stew
- Serving Suggestions
- Storing, Freezing & Reheating
- Recipe FAQs
- Hungry for more?
- 📖 Recipe
- Comments
What is Irish Stew?
Traditional Irish stew (Stobhach Gaelach in Irish Gaelic) is a very simple recipe made with lamb or mutton, onions, potatoes, carrots, herbs and seasonings. They are cooked long and slow in a thin, completely unthickened broth which gets all of its flavour from the meat and vegetables.
Is Irish Stew Vegan?
Irish stew is not vegan but it’s easy to make a great-tasting and hearty vegan stew with an Irish theme. I should note though, that it’s really hard to make a “traditional” Irish stew vegan because it is just lamb, potatoes, vegetables, stock and seasoning. If we just used those ingredients replacing the lamb for vegan “meat” it would be really tasteless because vegan “meat” doesn’t have the same flavour. So my vegan version needs some extra “flavour” helpers, but I have tried to keep an Irish theme going as you’ll notice with the addition of Guinness beer and the vegetables used.
Is Guinness Vegan?
Guinness in draught, bottle and canned form has been vegan-friendly since 2018. Read more about it on their website here.
Ingredients
The ingredients in this vegan Irish recipe are simple and other than the beer and optional vegan “meat” (or mushrooms) are all pretty pantry friendly. Here’s what you will be needing:
And some notes about a few of the ingredients:
- Stout beer – This is what gives this stew its incredible, rich, deep flavour and dark gravy. I’ve used Guinness because it’s so widely available and it’s vegan, but if you can’t find it, I recommend searching Barnivore for another vegan-friendly dark stout. Dark stout is necessary to get the best rich, full flavour in the gravy.
- Beefless tips or sliced portobello mushrooms – These are optional. The stew is amazing without them, but if you like to include hearty meat substitutes in your meals then I recommend Gardein Beefless Tips or big slices of meaty portobello mushroom. You could also use homemade vegan beef seitan cut it into pieces, or soy curls.
- Sugar – Just a touch. It’s important for balance. Stout is quite bitter.
- Soy sauce – For “meaty” flavour. It’s my secret weapon in any dish that needs deep, rich, meaty flavour. In combination with the Guinness, it really adds a massive flavour punch which is really important in a vegan recipe like this one which is traditionally made with meat. Use gluten-free soy sauce or tamari to keep the recipe gluten-free.
Success Tip – Use starchy potatoes like Yukon Gold or Russet so they can become meltingly soft in the gravy.
How to Make Vegan Irish Stew
The great thing about a vegan stew that doesn’t use lamb/mutton is that it doesn’t need to be slow-cooked for hours and hours to be good. This Vegan Irish Stew can be ready and on the table in a little over one hour but if you get caught up and need to delay it, it will happily simmer away gently for hours.
Here’s how to make Vegan Irish Stew:
- If using them, sear the vegan meat or mushrooms in a really hot pan, then remove them and set aside for later.
- Saute the onions, carrots, celery and garlic in the same pot, add the flour and let it cook out then add the Guinness, stirring as you go.
- Add everything else, give it a good stir and bring to a simmer.
- Pick out the stalks from the fresh herbs and stir the beefless tips or mushrooms back into the stew and let warm for about 10 minutes before serving.
Success Tip – Don’t leave the beefless tips, mushrooms, or seitan in the stew for the entire cooking time as they will get too soft and lose their texture. By searing them then setting aside and adding them back in at the end, you get all the flavour without losing texture.
For Instant Pot and slow cooker instructions see the FAQs.
Serving Suggestions
This hearty one-pot dish is a meal in itself and doesn’t need much to accompany it except some vegan soda bread slathered with vegan butter to mop up that tasty gravy.
If you don’t have soda bread any crusty bread will be great, and although not in keeping with the Irish theme, my no-knead focaccia would be amazing with it, as would my sweet potato biscuits.
Storing, Freezing & Reheating
Leftover vegetarian Irish stew can be kept in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 5 days. It also freezes well for up to 3 months, just be aware that potatoes can become a little floury once they have been frozen, defrosted and reheated.
Defrost overnight in the fridge then reheat in a pot on the stove until piping hot, or for a few minutes in the microwave. Feel free to add a splash or two of broth or beer to help thin it out if necessary.
Recipe FAQs
Hungry for more?
Love hearty comfort food like this stew? These recipes are just as filling and flavourful:
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