Skip to content

Meat, European

Karelian stew with mashed potatoes

Karelian stew is a slow cooked dish from Karelia made with beef and pork, served with mashed potatoes and lingonberry jam. For 4 people, it takes 3 hours 20 minutes, including 3 hours of unattended oven time. It's very easy to make and costs €3.30 per serving. The key to success is the long covered cooking, which braises the meat gently.

Tonight I'm making you a dish from Karelia, meat that slow cooks for hours in the oven with onions and allspice, served with mashed potatoes and lingonberry jam.

Karelian stew with mashed potatoes
Total time
3 h 20
Difficulty
Very easy
Cost per person
€3.30
Calories per person
620 kcalcalculated by Kiloach, your weight coach
Season
Winter, Fall

This stew comes straight from Karelia, a region spanning Finland and Russia, where winters are warmed by dishes that cook for hours with almost no effort. The mix of beef and pork turns tender and almost falls apart, seasoned with allspice and bay leaf. The cooking juices, concentrated after hours in the oven, coat every bite with a round, lightly spiced flavor.

This is the kind of winter Sunday dish you start early and forget about until evening. Mon Chou loves recipes like this one, ten minutes of prep and the oven does the rest. The mashed potatoes made with warm milk bring softness, and the lingonberry jam cuts through with its fruity tang, a balance that adults enjoy and that pleasantly surprises at the table.

The ingredients

4 people

Butcher

  • Beef chuck 450 g
  • Pork shoulder 450 g

Fruits and vegetables

  • Onions 3
  • Potatoes 1 kg

Pantry

  • Allspice berriesoften in the pantry 6
  • Bay leavesoften in the pantry 2
  • Lingonberry or cranberry jam 8 tbsp
  • Wateroften in the pantry 30 cl
  • Saltoften in the pantry 1 pinch
  • Pepperoften in the pantry 1 pinch

Dairy

  • Butter 30 g
  • Milk 20 cl

Allergens Lactose

The step by step recipe

  1. Cut both meats into four centimeter cubes and slice the onions thinly.

    Mix beef and pork together, they complement each other in flavor and tenderness.

  2. Layer the meat and onions in a Dutch oven, with the allspice, bay leaves, salt and pepper.

    Season generously, the long cooking time mellows the flavor.

  3. Add the water and small pieces of butter, cover and bake at 150°C. 3 h

    Don't stir it or lift the lid, the cooking takes care of itself.

  4. Near the end, boil the potatoes in salted water and mash them with the warm milk. 25 min

    Use warm milk for a smoother mash.

  5. Remove the bay leaves, serve the stew with the mashed potatoes and lingonberry jam on the side.

    The tartness of the jam brings out the richness of the stew.

Our tips to get it right

  • Pick a Dutch oven with a tight fitting lid so the water doesn't evaporate during the three hours of cooking.
  • Cut the meat cubes roughly the same size so they cook evenly and stay tender together.
  • If you don't have allspice, mix a pinch of cinnamon, ground clove and pepper for a similar aroma.

The variations

  • Swap the pork shoulder for lamb shoulder for a stronger flavor, the cooking time stays the same.
  • For a vegetarian version, use large chunks of button mushrooms and lentils, cutting the cooking time down to one hour.
  • To save time, cook the stew in a pressure cooker for 45 minutes instead of three hours in the oven, the result will be less tender but still good for a weeknight.

What to serve it with

  • Dense dark rye bread
  • Shredded raw cabbage salad
  • Sparkling water with lemon

Storage

The stew keeps for 3 days in the fridge in a sealed container, and the flavor often improves the next day. It freezes well for up to 2 months, without the mashed potatoes. Reheat it gently in a pot with a splash of water to bring back the juices.

Questions about this dish

Can you make this stew ahead of time?

Yes, it's even recommended. Make the stew the day before and reheat it gently the next day, the meat gets more tender and the flavor deepens.

Can you substitute the allspice?

Yes, if you can't find it, mix a pinch of cinnamon, ground clove and black pepper. It won't taste identical but it comes close.

Can you freeze the mashed potatoes with the stew?

No, it's better to freeze only the stew. Mashed potatoes turn grainy and watery once thawed, so it's best to make them fresh.

Is this dish good for kids?

Allspice has a fairly strong aroma that doesn't always appeal to younger kids. You can cut the amount in half to soften the flavor without changing the rest of the recipe.

How long does it take to make a Karelian stew with mashed potatoes and lingonberry jam?

Count 3 h 20 in total, prep and cooking included. The recipe is rated “very easy”.

How many calories are in a Karelian stew with mashed potatoes and lingonberry jam?

About 620 kcal per serving, for a recipe meant for 4 people. Calories are calculated by Kiloach, your weight coach, the app that partners with Mon Chou.

How much does a Karelian stew with mashed potatoes and lingonberry jam cost?

About €3.30 per serving, or €13.20 for 4 people, based on average supermarket prices.

What allergens does this recipe contain?

This recipe contains lactose. Always check the labels of the products you buy.

European Cuisines

See all

Beef recipes

See all