Best Vegan Guinness Irish Stew
An Irish pub classic, this Vegan Guinness Irish Stew pairs an incredible, robust flavor with the simplicity of an easy stew recipe for a perfect St. Patrick Day’s feast!
It’s a blustery cold day in the high desert of California. Michael’s at work and the dogs and I are just chillin’ while this lovely pot of Vegan Guinness Irish Stew cooks on the stove. As I close my eyes for a moment, I drift back in time to St. Patrick’s Day at my grandmother’s house. St. Patrick’s Day was a huge deal for my family and my grandparents made it extra special. While my grandfather performed magic tricks and handed out dollar bills tied with green ribbon in the living room, my grandmother would be in the kitchen cooking her famous Corned Beef and Cabbage, Irish Mashed Potatoes, Green Jello with Pears in it and Guinness Irish Stew. I always thought the jello and pear dish was a little silly, but oh how I wish I could visit my grandmother again and see those little jello molds shake with the sound of our laughter.
And let’s not forget the Guinness beer. Us kids really got a kick out of watching the thick, creamy head of the beer foam up as it was being poured into the stew. And we always smiled at each other, as we gobbled it up at the dinner table, because we just knew we were getting away with drinking beer right under our parents’ noses. Those were good times. Family, food, fun. A treasure trove of memories flood my mind as I’m brought back to reality by the rich aroma coming from my kitchen. Now let’s talk stew!
Most of the ingredients you’ll need for this Guinness Irish Stew recipe are pictured above. Remember, though, the most important ingredient to making this recipe is the Guinness Stout. It’s the reason you are here and its what gives this Irish Stew recipe its rich, unique flavor, which incidentally, doesn’t cook out of the recipe like the alcohol does.
How to Make this Vegan Guinness Irish Stew
Once you’ve gathered the ingredients, many of which you may already have in your pantry, you’ll want to chop up your vegetables. I find doing this in advance makes cooking a whole lot easier and less stressful.
Step by Step Instructions
Here are some cooking instructions to get you started:
- The first thing you’ll want to do is to simmer your bay leaf in a tad bit of oil just until it’s fragrant. Remove it, then add your garlic and simmer for a few. Now add your onions and cook until translucent.
- In the meantime, pour your vegetable broth into a large stock pot and turn the heat on high. Add your potatoes and bring to a boil. Reduce heat.
Cooking with Jackfruit
If you’d like to use a meat substitute when making this Guinness Irish Stew, jackfruit is the way to go. Similar to tofu, jackfruit takes on the flavor of whatever you’re cooking it with, which makes it the perfect companion to your soup base.
For this recipe, I chose to use 2 boxes of unseasoned, Organic Young Jackfruit from Edward & Sons. I like this brand because it comes ready to go without having to do anything to it. The pieces are moist and tender, similar to real beef, without causing any harm to animals during the manufacturing process. NOTE: I have received a comment or two that this boxed brand of jackfruit tastes strange and I have to agree. I now make this recipe using two cans of organic young jackfruit in water.
After adding a bit of oil to your pan, you’ll add jackfruit and turn the heat to high. You’re going to simmer for about 5 minutes, until your jackfruit is super-brown as seen in the image below. I cook mine until it’s crusty on the ends.
Once your jackfruit is done, you’ll add it to the stock pot, then add more oil to the pan to simmer the vegetables.
Once your veggies are done, toss them in the stock pot. Add your tarragon and tomato paste and stir until the paste is fully disseminated. Then slowly pour in your Guinness. Stir, cover and cook for 1-2 hours over medium heat. Stir semi-frequently to avoid burning. I hope that makes sense?
To thicken the stew broth add cold water to 4 tbsp corn starch. Turn the heat on high and pour in the corn starch mixture. Stirring constantly, bring to a full boil for 1 minute. Remove from heat and allow to sit for 10 minutes to thicken before serving. Also, check out my latest soup recipe, One Pot Wild Rice and Mushroom Soup.
The finished recipe is:
- thick
- rich
- savory
- flavorful
- healthy
Only 104 calories per bowl with 1 gram of fat per 10 ounce serving. You can’t get any better than that for an Irish Stew Recipe.
If you make this Vegan Guinness Irish Stew recipe, be sure to take a photo and tag it #veganvigilante1 on Instagram. I’d love to connect with you via social media so please follow me on Facebook, Pinterest and Twitter. I appreciate you for taking the time to read about me and my vegan recipes. I’d love to hear what you think so please leave your comments after the post. If you have questions or want to share a recipe of your own as a guest blogger, please email me at [email protected].
I have tons of new vegan recipes swimming around in my head that I’m preparing to share with you. If you love St. Patrick’s Day, you’ll love this Vegan Cauliflower Colcannon. For more healthy dinner ideas, visit my Main Dish Section. If you want a quick meal with less mess, check out my One-Pot Meal Section. In love with stews and chili, visit my Stew & Chili Section. In the mood for some quick easy soup ideas, visit my Soup Section. Thanks again for stopping by! Have a wonderful, plant-based day!
Vegan Guinness Irish Stew
Ingredients
- 3 tsp olive oil divided extra virgin
- 1 bay leaf
- 5 cloves garlic minced
- 1 med brown onion finely chopped
- 2 cans Organic Young Jackfruit packed in water drained and shredded
- 32 oz Organic Vegetable Broth I use Organics
- 5 med red potatoes chopped
- 4 large carrots diced
- 4 large celery stalks diced
- 3 tbsp tomato paste
- 22 oz Guinness beer extra stout
- 1 tbsp fresh rosemary
- 1 tsp tarragon
- 1 tsp sea salt
- 1 tsp black pepper
- 4 tbsp corn starch mix with small amount cold water
Instructions
- Heat 1 tsp olive oil in large fry pan. Add bay leaf and allow to gently simmer just until fragrant. Toss aside.
- Add garlic. Simmer for 2-3 minutes. Add onion and saute until translucent.
- Add vegetable broth to large stock pot over high heat. Add potatoes and bring to a boil. Reduce heat to medium and transfer garlic and onions to stock pot. Simmer for a spell.
- Heat 1 tsp of olive oil in same pan you cooked the onions and garlic in. Add jackfruit, a pinch of sea salt and pepper and brown over high heat. You want the jackfruit to be a little crispy on the edges. Transfer to stock pot when well done.
- Heat another tsp of olive oil in same fry pan you cooked everything else in. Add celery, carrots and rosemary to pan and saute over medium heat for about 5 minutes.
- Transfer veggies to stock pot and give it a stir. Add the tarragon and tomato paste and stir until paste is fully disseminated. Then, slowly pour in your Guinness. Stir and reduce heat to low, Allow to simmer for about 1-2 hours.
- Turn the heat on high and pour in your corn starch water, stirring constantly. Bring to a boil. Allow to boil for a full minute, while continuing to stir. Remove from heat. Allow to sit for 10 minutes to thicken up. Serve immediately with a side of brown rice and some warm, crusty french bread.
Notes
- To keep the potatoes firm, try adding them last and don’t overcook them.
- The Guinness beer makes this dish. There is really no substitute. If you’re absolutely against adding it to your food, try adding 4 tbsp of vegan Worcestershire sauce.
Ths recipe has become a staple for me! Paired with some vegan Irish brown bread and I am the happiest on a cold night! Thanks for sharing this recipe!
Thank you Jocelyn. Glad you made the stew one of your favorites! Vegan Irish brown bread sounds fantastic as well!
Great recipe! My family requests it often. One note: You don’t say when to put in the tarragon and tomato paste.
Thanks for the recipe. Keep them coming!
Kelly, thanks for letting me know of this. I will fix right away!
still nothing! 🙁
Hi Veronica, what are you referring to?
NOT Gluten Free! That beer contains gluten! A person might substitute Red Bridge brand, which is labeled gluten free, but the flavor won’t be the same.
Eileen, would you mind pointing out where you are finding it says the recipe is Gluten-free? I read it a couple times and cannot find it.
Definitely not gluten free! The description on the recipe (with the orange background, ) said it’s vegan and gluten free. Guinness is most definitely not gluten free. I do plan to try this concept though. Thank you!
Thank you I’ll have to change it.
I need some of this stew! I love a good hearty soup and this one looks mouth watering and super colorful!
Thank you so much Matt, for the nice compliment and the rating.
Well done! This looks just like the real thing! I’ve never tried substituting with jackfruit because I’ve always found it so intimidating. I didn’t;t know you could get it already prepared. I would definitely try this next year for St. Patricks Day!
Thank you Lauren. The jackfruit I used in this was in a packet. You can also get it in a can and season it yourself. I think if I did it again, I would season the jackfruit a bit more. I only used sea salt and pepper on it this time. At any rate, I’m glad you will try it in the future.
Oh my yum! I can’t wait to try your recipe! This looks like a delicious family meal!
Thank you Sara.
I don’t drink beer but we do cook with it. My kids will drink beer so we have it on hand when they visit. I’ve never heard of jackfruit — very interesting. I’m going to have to try it out. We use tofu occasionally when we make certain Asian dishes. I’ll have to find out more about jackfruit.
I love that you made a vegan version of this! Looks delish and I love your memory story! I too have memories of my grandparents that are similar to this! Enjoyed reading this post and again love the fact that you turned this into a vegan meal!!
Thank you Amanda, I really appreciate your comment. Memories are so special and we are lucky to have them!
This looks like such an amazing Irish Stew. I’ve been seeing a lot of recipes lately using Jackfruit as an alternative to meat. This looks delicious!
Thank you Sharon, it’s so true, jackfruit is a really awesome meat substitute!
Such a great vegan option for Paddy’s Day….and all year round! So heart and comforting, such an awesome recipe!
Thank you so much, Carrie. So glad you find it comforting.
Oh how I love the tasty nectar of the Guinness Irish stew! This is one of my favorite dishes and I am making a double batch for a Saint Patrick’s gathering this weekend with friends. I would love to try it with jackfruit buy it is hard to come by here but I am going to look. We saw jackfruit everywhere and on the street when were visiting my daughter in Hanoi and it is tasty!
A tasty nectar is a fine way to describe it Analida. Hope your gathering goes well and if you make this, regardless if you use jackfruit, let us know how it came out. Thanks much for your comment.
Saint Patrick’s day was a big deal in my family too! I have never heard of jackfruit but am so intrigued that I’m going to ask for it at the nearest health food store! I love trying new things, especially vegan new things since I was once a vegan so many years ago that there wasn’t a lot of alternatives that tasted good. As soon as I find this jackfruit that you talk about, I’m going to try your yummy stew – and if I can’t find it, I’ll just add meat 🙂 just so I can try it. as it looks delicious!
Thank you Elaine. If you try it, be sure to come back and let us know!
i have yet to try jackfruit but i LOVE this stew with all the veggies. it looks so comforting esp with this weather.
Hi Dixya, thanks so much.
What a great idea! I an’t wait to try it. I eat almost 100% vegan, and I have been meaning to try a recipe with jackfruit forever. Looking forward to trying your recipe!
Hey Kate, so glad you are eating vegan almost completely. If you try the recipe, let us know how it goes. Thanks for your comment.
I am not a beer lover, but I DO like cooking with beer. This stew sounds like the perfect dish to celebrate St. Patrick’s Day with….and leftovers would be great for another dinner during the week.
Gloria, thank you for your comment and nice rating!
I LOVE the idea of creating a vegan version of Irish Stew! The most important part is the Guinness anyways, right? Love, that you use jackfruit. I have been meaning to try a recipe with jackfruit after having enjoyed a jackfruit burger at my vegan friend’s birthday party. It is such a neat meat substitute!
Thank you Kiki, for your nice rating and comment. If you try it, let us know how it turns out.
Thank you Kiki, and yes, the most important part is the Guinness. Without it, there would be no recipe!
What a great twist on a classic. I have tried jackfruit and I enjoy it a lot. Certainly a dish that I need to try soon. And then paired with Guinness I am in!
Thank you Adriana, you’ll love cooking with jackfruit!
I made it exact except I had Guinness Stout and not extra stout. I found the stew, though picture perfect, had an odd bitter flavor. It was my first go at jackfruit but I used the Edward Co one, so was it the stout? ( I love Guinness so that wasn’t an issue!) My family liked it better than I did, but they agreed there was an odd flavor.
Charlene, I am going to change the jackfruit in the recipe like right now. I did not like the boxed jackfruit from Edward and Sons. I have since made it with canned jackfruit in water and it tastes much better. Did you use the boxed type like I did? If so, I encourage you to try it again with the canned jackfruit. I’m sorry it was not a good experience for you. Thank you for trying it.
This stew looks perfect for St. Patricke’s day – so hearty, comforting and delicious! Can’t wait to try this!
Thanks so much, Natalie!
I keep hearing so much about jackfruit but I’m just not sure how to use it. I’m not vegan but this looks so good I need to try it. I can’t imagine what the jackfruit tastes like!
Thank you Karen! Jackfruit takes on the flavor of whatever spices and stuff you cook it with. It can be incorporated into so many dishes, you’d be amazed!
Love that you’ve managed to make something so comforting like this vegan! Sounds awesome 🙂
Thanks, Amy!
What a great recipe so that no one misses out on that comforting bowl of Irish stew.
Pass the soda bread it is time for dinner!!!
Indeed, Claire, indeed!