Beef Stew with Suet Dumplings

For the stew

• 2 tbsp olive oil
• 25g butter
• 750g beef stewing steak, chopped into bite-sized pieces
• 2 tbsp plain flour
• 2 cloves garlic, crushed
• 175g baby onions, peeled
• 150g celery, cut into large chunks
• 150g carrots, cut into large chunks
• 2 leeks, roughly chopped
• 200g swede, cut into large chunks
• 150ml red wine
• 500ml beef stock
• 2 bay leaves
• 3 tbsp fresh thyme leaves
• 3 tbsp chopped fresh flatleaf parsley
• Worcestershire sauce, to taste
• 1 tbsp balsamic vinegar, or to taste
• salt and freshly ground black pepper

Preheat the oven to 180C/350F/Gas 4.

Heat the oil and butter in an ovenproof casserole and fry the beef until browned on all sides.

Sprinkle over the flour and cook for a further 2-3 minutes.

Add the garlic and all the vegetables and fry for 1-2 minutes.

Stir in the wine, stock and herbs, then add the Worcestershire sauce and balsamic vinegar, to taste. Season with salt and freshly ground black pepper.

Cover with a lid, transfer to the oven and cook for about two hours, or until the meat is tender.

For the dumplings

• 125g or 1 cup plain flour, plus extra for dusting
• 1 tsp baking powder
• pinch salt
• 60g or½cup suet
• approx½cup water, to make a dough

Sift the flour, baking powder and salt into a bowl.

Add the suet and enough water to form a thick dough.

With floured hands, roll spoonfuls of the dough into small balls.

After two hours, remove the lid from the stew and place the balls on top of the stew. Cover, return to the oven and cook for a further 20 minutes, or until the dumplings have swollen and are tender. (If you prefer your dumplings with a golden top, leave the lid off when returning to the oven.)

To serve, place a spoonful of mashed potato onto each of four serving plates and top with the stew and dumplings. Sprinkle with chopped parsley.