This Lancashire Beef Hot Pot is a taste of home for me. My mother would regularly make this dish on cold winter days. I loved arriving home from school to the smell of this stew. It is now number one on my list of favorite comfort food recipes.
To make this one-pot stew, start by browning the beef on all sides. Sauté the onions and carrots until golden. Sprinkle with flour and add Worcestershire sauce, tomato paste, and stock. Bring to a boil and add the meat. Next comes the creative bit. Remove the pan from the heat and arrange the sliced potatoes on top of the stew in concentric circles. Cover the pot and cook in the oven until the potatoes are cooked through. Remove the lid and brown the potatoes under the broiler. Be careful during this part of the process, as they can brown quite quickly. This stew is one of those dishes that tastes better the next day, so try to make it in advance if you can!
To make my Lancashire Beef Hot Pot, you will need the following ingredients:
Preheat the oven to 325 °F.
In a 6-quart cast-iron braising pot or Dutch oven, melt 1.8 ounces of butter over medium heat. Work in batches to brown the beef on all sides. Remove the browned meat to a plate as each batch is completed.
Add onions and carrots to the pot and sauté until golden and the onions are translucent.
Sprinkle flour over the sauteed vegetables. Mix well and allow to brown until thoroughly coated.
Add 2 teaspoons of Worcestershire sauce, 2 tablespoons of tomato paste, and 3 cups of stock. Bring the mixture to a boil and stir in the meat and bay leaves.
Remove the pot from the heat and arrange the sliced potatoes on top of the stew in concentric circles working from the outside edge to the center.
Cover the pot and place it in the oven for about 1½ hrs until the potatoes are cooked through.
Finish by removing the lid and brushing the potatoes with a little more butter if they seem dry. Place under the broiler for 5-8 minutes until brown.
Serve in large bowls.
This Lancashire Beef Hot Pot is a delicious warming stew - perfect for cold winter days! Don’t forget to tag #CookMeRecipes if you decide to try this one!
