Hearty Welsh Lamb Stew (Printable)

Tender lamb and root vegetables slowly simmered to create a warming Welsh classic dish.

# What You'll Need:

→ Meat

01 - 2.2 pounds lamb shoulder, bone-in preferred, cut into large chunks

→ Vegetables

02 - 2 large carrots, peeled and sliced
03 - 2 medium parsnips, peeled and sliced
04 - 2 medium potatoes, peeled and diced
05 - 1 small rutabaga, peeled and diced
06 - 2 leeks, cleaned and sliced
07 - 1 medium onion, diced

→ Broth & Seasoning

08 - 6 cups low-sodium chicken or lamb stock
09 - 2 bay leaves
10 - 1 small bunch fresh parsley, chopped
11 - Salt and freshly ground black pepper, to taste

# How to Make It:

01 - Place lamb shoulder pieces in a large pot. Cover with stock and bring to a boil. Skim off any foam from the surface.
02 - Add bay leaves, reduce heat, cover, and simmer gently for 1 hour.
03 - Incorporate carrots, parsnips, potatoes, rutabaga, onion, and most of the leeks, reserving a handful for later. Season with salt and pepper.
04 - Simmer uncovered for 45 minutes until vegetables are tender and lamb is falling apart.
05 - Add reserved leeks and chopped parsley. Simmer for an additional 10 minutes.
06 - Remove bay leaves, adjust seasoning to taste. Serve hot, garnished with extra parsley. Optionally accompany with crusty bread or traditional Welsh cheese.

# Expert Suggestions:

01 -
  • It tastes like it took all day, but only two hours of gentle simmering does the real work.
  • The vegetables become almost creamy from the lamb's richness—no cream needed, just time and good stock.
  • This is the kind of stew that actually gets better when made ahead, so it's perfect for planning.
  • One pot, minimal fussing, and it feeds people in that deeply satisfying way.
02 -
  • Never skip skimming the foam at the start—it's the difference between a beautiful clear broth and a cloudy one.
  • The vegetables need to go in at the same time so they finish together; adding them in stages means some get mushy while others stay firm.
  • If your stock is very salty, taste it first and use less seasoning than the recipe suggests; you can always add more at the end.
03 -
  • Ask your butcher for lamb shoulder with the bone still in—it's usually cheaper and tastes infinitely better.
  • If the broth seems thin at the end, leave the lid off for the last 10 minutes to let some liquid evaporate and concentrate the flavor.
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