We love pork in this house. And beer. Two of the few things a Texan and a Brit might have in common from the very start, wouldn’t you say? A couple of weeks ago, James came home with a six pack of Sam Adam’s Octoberfest beer.

Now, I’m not a beer drinker. But I loooooove to cook with beer. I love the earthy, deep, and rich tones it adds to everything from bread to cupcakes, but I especially love it in stew and pie applications.

Guinness is great in a steak pie. And Sam Adam’s Octoberfest beer is great in a quick skillet stew.

This is one of those recipes that happens when I walk in the kitchen, pick ingredients out of the fridge, and just sort of see what happens when they come together.

Luckily, this time I was smart enough to keep a notepad nearby (you’d be surprised how often that doesn’t happen and then I kick myself later) and I wrote down every ingredient as I went.

The resulting stew was so good I’ve made it twice since. We’re working our way through that Octoberfest six pack one bottle and batch of stew at a time (because now it’s out of season and I won’t let James drink the rest so I can keep making this stew!).

Plenty of other beers will work, don’t you fear. I just really like the richness of the Sam Adam’s Octoberfest.

Pork and Beer Skillet Stew

Serves 2 to 3

Ingredients
3 tablespoons canola or olive oil, divided
2 1″ thick pork loin steaks, cubed
1 large carrot, diced
2 parsnips, diced
1 large sweet onion, diced finely,
3 kale leaves, stripped from the stems
2 medium blue, Yukon gold, or red bliss potatoes, diced

1 12 fl oz bottle Sam Adams Octoberfest Beer (or beer of your choosing)
1 tablespoon apple cider vinegar
1 tablespoon boiled cider or 1/4 cup regular apple cider (not juice!)
1/2 cup chicken stock

1 teaspoon onion powder
1 teaspoon garlic powder
approximately 1 tablespoon fresh sage and rosemary, minced
salt and pepper to taste

Butter and flour or cornstarch and water to thicken sauce.

Directions
Heat 2 tablespoons of oil in a large french oven on medium high heat. Add pork to pan and stir immediately to avoid sticking. Stir often, until pork is completely browned. Remove to a large bowl and set aside.

Add chopped carrot, parsnip, onion, and kale to the pan, and saute. Season with salt and pepper. Allow onions to become translucent and carrots to begin to soften, then remove to the same bowl as the pork.

Add 3rd tablespoon of oil to the pan and allow to heat. Add diced potatoes to the hot oil and season immediately with salt and pepper. Allow to brown and get some nice color, then remove to the same bowl as the pork and vegetable mixture.

Add 2 tablespoons of butter to the pan and allow to melt, stirring often. When butter is completely melted and begins to bubble, add 2 tablespoons of flour to the pan and whisk together to create a roux.

Add beer and stock to the pan and stir constantly. Add onion and garlic powder and whisk them in completely, then add the fresh herbs. Allow the sauce to thicken a little, and taste it for seasoning. Add more salt and pepper as necessary.

Add the pork and vegetables back to the pot when your gravy is thick enough to be considered a stew – it should coat the back of a spoon and stay there for a few seconds.

Stir well to combine, reduce heat to low, and cover for 10 to 15 minutes, stirring occasionally.

Serve immediately with warm crusty bread and butter.

One of the things I’ve loved about making this quick pork and beer stew was the opportunity to try out the Le Creuset 3 1/2 quart Chef’s Pan I was offered for review. This thing is pretty awesome! It’s shallow enough to work well for sauteeing, but deep enough to suit making a stew without spillage.

The 3 1/2 quart Chef’s Pan is the perfect size. Like a good knife, it fits perfectly in your hand. It’s not too heavy or too light, and fits a variety of recipes. I guess that’s why they call it a Chef’s pan – it’s so versatile you can cook just about anything in it. Not to be outdone, the Chef’s pan actually came as a set, its partner being a 9 1/2 inch Le Creuset Fry Pan.

Handily, these two pans are the same circumference, so you can use the accompanying lid on either one, without needing extra space for more lids in your cupboard. Both pans are made of Le Creuset’s tri-ply stainless steel, which promotes quick and even heating. You don’t have to cook at a high heat in order to get a great temperature – I like that. Absolutely perfect for all your holiday meals!

From Le Creuset’s Website:

The fry pan easily handles a variety of cooking techniques, from searing to stir-frying, while the sloping sides of the chef’s pan promote rapid evaporation, making it perfect for reducing sauces.

So, who wants to win this fabulous Le Creuset Pan Package just in time for the holidays?

How you win:

{Required Entry}
Visit Le Creuset’s Cookware page.

Come right back here and leave a comment telling me what Le Creuset item (other than the set in the giveaway) you would LOVE to see under your Christmas tree. You must be specific. “Red French Oven” will not count.

Who wants bonus entries?!

For each item below that you do, you will get one extra chance to win. If you already do any of these items, they DO count. You MUST leave a separate comment for each item. If you leave one cumulative comment, it will only count as one extra entry.

1. Like Le Creuset on Facebook.
2. Like Bluebonnets & Brownies on Facebook.
3. Follow @LeCreuset and @BluebonnetBaker on Twitter and tweet the following. Then come back and leave a comment that you did so.

I just entered to win a super cookpan package from @BluebonnetBaker & @LeCreuset! http://su.pr/1EmOv0 #giveaway

4. Subscribe to Bluebonnets & Brownies email updates. When you click the link, you will see “Get Bluebonnets & Brownies Delivered By Email.” Once you subscribe to the email updates, you will get an emailing confirming your subscription. Leave a comment after you’ve confirmed your subscription.

Important Details:

-This giveaway is open to USA residents only and will run until Wednesday, November 30th at 11:59 pm EST.
-Winner(s) will be generated via a random number generator software program. Winner will be notified via the contact email provided on the comment contact form.
-Winner(s) will have until 12/4/11 to claim their Le Creuset Cookpan Set or we will choose another winner.
-Winner will receive one Le Creuset Cookpan Set (3 1/2 quart Tri-Ply Chef’s Pan and 9 1/2″ Tri-Ply Fry Pan){$179.99 value}. Product will be shipped by Le Creuset.

Disclosure:

This giveaway is provided to you by Le Creuset USA. The views and opinions expressed by Amber Bracegirdle on Bluebonnets & Brownies are my own, and based upon my cooking experiences with Le Creuset products. I was given the product free of charge to test and review it; however, I was not monetarily compensated for the review or giveaway.[wpurp-searchable-recipe]Pork and Beer Skillet Stew & a Le Creuset Giveaway – – – [/wpurp-searchable-recipe]

Elizabeth

Wednesday 30th of November 2011

I would love it have the cobalt blue panini set under my tree this year! Thanks for the stew recipe, it sounds yummy!