Olde English stew recipe

Veggie Jules hoped for the best when she cooked this meaty stew for her guests on Come Dine With Me West Midlands

Serves 5

Ingredients

1.5kg stewing beef, diced
2 x 500ml bottles real ale
Flour, for dusting
2 tbsp oil
3 shallots, chopped
1 kg carrot, diced
1 kg turnip, diced
2 kg potatoes, diced
1kg parsnip, diced
1kg sweet potato, diced

For the dumplings

150g plain flour
75g shredded suet
Beer or water, to bind

Method

Place the meat in a bowl and cover with one of the bottles of ale. Cover and chill overnight to marinate.
The next day lift the meat out of the beer and toss with flour to evenly coat. Heat the oil in a frying pan and fry the meat until browned.
Add the shallots, carrot, turnip, potatoes, parsnips and sweet potatoes and fry for a few more minutes. Add the beer and bring to the boil, then turn down and simmer for 1 hour.
Transfer the meat to a slow cooker and cook gently for 3-4 hours; the meat should be very tender.
For the dumplings, in a bowl mix the flour and suet then add enough beer and/or water to get a sticky dough. Using floured hands shape into small balls.
Before serving, lift the stew out of the oven and put on the hob. Drop the dumplings into the stew and simmer for 20 minutes until they are light and fluffy.
Spoon the stew and dumplings onto plates and serve.

Please note this recipe is the contestant's own and has not been tested professionally. Like the Come Dine With Me contestants, you could be creating a culinary delight or dining disaster, so switch on your ovens and be bold.