A Dash of Guinness

Cooking with Ireland’s famed brew

By Roxanne Webber

In honor of St. Patrick’s Day, we’ve rounded up both sweet and savory recipes that incorporate dark, velvety Irish stout. Though some people will balk at the idea of pouring a perfectly good pint into your dish rather than straight into your mouth, we think Guinness’s malty, toasty flavors cook up rather well. For more ideas, check out this St. Patrick’s Day Menu. And there are great discussions (and recipes) on Chowhound about Irish soda bread, stuffed cabbage, and St. Pat’s cookies and desserts.

1. Beef Braised in Guinness. Chunks of beef are browned with bacon and onions, then braised until tender in Guinness and beef stock.

2. Irish Cheddar and Stout Fondue. A perfect St. Patrick’s Day party dish, this fondue uses Irish cheddar and stout in place of the traditional Gruyère and white wine.

3. Warm German Potato Salad. Try using Guinness for the tangy beer sauce that’s tossed with warm potato slices, fresh herbs, bacon, and hard-cooked eggs in this hearty side dish.

4. Chocolate Guinness Cupcakes. Guinness’s chocolaty-coffee undertones make it a natural fit for chocolate desserts. Here, cupcakes get a flavor boost with the addition of stout, then are finished off with a smooth cream cheese frosting.

5. Welsh Rarebit Bites. Toasted slices of baguette are topped with a melty cheddar, Guinness, and mustard sauce for an easy hors d’oeuvre.

6. Guinness Stout Marinade. Guinness, lime juice, and fresh herbs are blended together for an all-purpose beef marinade.

7. Guinness–Milk Chocolate Ice Cream. This unusual ice cream features the hearty flavor of Guinness blended with creamy milk chocolate and a hint of vanilla.

8. Guinness Pub Burgers. Adding Guinness to these burgers keeps them juicy and enhances their beefiness.

9. Gingerbread with Stout. Stout gives this gingerbread a dark, rich flavor and keeps it from being too sweet.

10. Cheddar Beer Dip with Smoked Sausage. A bubbling cheese dip full of hearty stout and smoked sausage bits, good served with pretzels or cut-up vegetables.