Why not give this hearty dish a go

Traditional Winter Welsh Beef Stew with Herbs & Horseradish and Parsley Dumplings

Ingredients

• 450g (1 lb) Lean Welsh beef braising cubes
• 15ml (1 tbsp) Oil
• 6 Shallots, peeled and halved
• 2 Cloves garlic, squashed
• 1 Leek, roughly sliced
• 2 Celery sticks, cut into chunks
• 2 Carrots, peeled and cut into chunks
• 2 Turnips, peeled and cut into chunks
• Sprigs of fresh parsley, sage, rosemary and thyme
• 300ml (½ pt) Beef stock
• 300ml (½ pt) Ale
• 100g (4 oz) Self-raising flour
• 50g (2 oz) Suet
• 45ml (3 tbsp) Fresh parsley, chopped
• 30ml (2 tbsp)Horseradish sauce
• Cold water to mix

Method

1. Preheat oven to gas mark 4, 180°C, 350°F.
2. Heat oil in a large ovenproof pan or casserole pot. Add the beef cubes and brown on all sides.
3. Add the shallots and garlic and continue to cook for 1-2 mins. Add all remaining ingredients and bring to the boil, cover with lid or foil. Cook in preheated oven for 1½ hours.
4. In a bowl mix together the flour, suet and parsley. Add the horseradish sauce and a few spoonfuls of cold water and mix together with a spoon. Using your hands press the mixture together to form a ball. Break off small pieces of the pastry and roll in your hands to form a small ball / dumpling (the mixture should make about 10-12 small dumplings).
5. Remove stew after 1½ hours, remove lid and drop the dumplings into the stew. Return to the oven for a further 30 mins until the dumplings are fluffy but golden.
6. Serve in bowls with dumplings and extra steamed seasonal green vegetables.