08 March 2018

Mediæval Beef Stew

Here is a recipe for mediæval beef stew I found on the web. I've tried it, and it's delicious! Actually, it was the first thing I ever made in my cast-iron dutch oven when I bought it.

Now, of course, since my Cuter & Shorter Half is a vegetarian, I don't suppose I'll be making it anytime soon! However, I do make a simple soup or gruel that is mediæval in inspiration. Take some stock or bouillon, either beef or vegetable, bring it to a boil and throw in a handful each of barley (or bulghur wheat) and a handful of split peas. Add your choice of seasonings. Since I'm on a restricted sodium diet, I use fresh ground black pepper and a salt free garlic and herb mixture, similar to Mrs Dash. Boil on low heat until the grain and the peas are tender. Eat with a good, solid bread. Makes a delicious, easy meal.


Mediæval Beef Stew

2-pound chuck roast
1/2 to 1 teaspoon dried herbs such as parsley, basil, and thyme
1 large onion
4 medium carrots
2 bottles of beer or ale (Something you would drink—I used Kolsch style ale. And yes, history police, I know medieval people didn’t keep their beer in bottles.)
2-3 stalks of celery with leaves (Medieval folk would have had celeriac in the stores, but celery is easier to get today.)
1 clove garlic
1 8-ounce package of mushrooms
1/4 cup dried split peas (OK, these are split by a machine, but it’s the closest I can get in my small Indiana town to what medieval folk might have had in late fall.)
1/2 cup pearled barely (Stews made by medieval peasants had grain such as rye or barley, and pearled barley is as close as I can get.)
6 radishes (They become mild with cooking.)
4 small turnips (It wouldn’t surprise me if medieval peasants grew these as large as they could, but smaller tastes better.)


If I remember correctly, I used Guinness stout for the beer.


No comments:

Post a Comment

Comments are subject to deletion if they are not germane. I have no problem with a bit of colourful language, but blasphemy or depraved profanity will not be allowed. Attacks on the Catholic Faith will not be tolerated. Comments will be deleted that are republican (Yanks! Note the lower case 'r'!), attacks on the legitimacy of Pope Francis as the Vicar of Christ (I know he's a material heretic and a Protector of Perverts, and I definitely want him gone yesterday! However, he is Pope, and I pray for him every day.), the legitimacy of the House of Windsor or of the claims of the Elder Line of the House of France, or attacks on the legitimacy of any of the currently ruling Houses of Europe.