Television presenter Ruth Langsford has unveiled her ultimate recipe for autumn comfort food, a hearty lamb stew that requires just six key ingredients. The Loose Women star, 65, shared the dish on Instagram last month, describing it as the perfect cosy meal for crisp evenings that fills the home with an incredible aroma.
The Six Simple Ingredients for a Hearty Feast
In a video demonstration posted in November, Ruth Langsford laid out her straightforward approach to a satisfying one-pot dinner. The ingredients she used are accessible and minimal, focusing on robust flavours. She prepared large bowls of diced lamb (a mix of leg and shoulder), chunky sliced carrots and leeks, chopped potatoes, lamb stock – she prefers Knorr stock pots – and flour seasoned with salt and pepper.
"Hi everybody," Ruth began in her post. "Well, autumn is upon us - it’s sweater weather. I do like autumn, actually. I love the cosiness of it and all the colours changing. And I love a stew and a casserole, and that’s what I’m going to make today."
Ruth's Step-by-Step Cooking Method
The cooking process, as detailed by Ruth and reported by the Express, starts by coating the cubed lamb in the seasoned flour. She then sears the meat in batches in a hot pan until it turns a golden brown colour, setting it aside on a separate plate once done.
Using the same pot, she then gently sautés the sliced leeks and carrots to soften them. After a few minutes, the lamb is returned to the pot along with the potatoes and the lamb stock. Ruth emphasised a key tip: instead of bringing the stew to a rolling boil, she recommends just increasing the heat slightly before transferring the entire pot to the oven.
"I don’t do tiny pieces or it turns to mush," Ruth explained in her caption. Her instructions are precise: "Everything goes back in the pot with a lamb stock pot, a gentle simmer (don’t boil!), and then into the oven at 170°C for 20 mins, then turn it down and let it slow cook for about 1hr 45 mins."
Celebrity Praise and the Perfect 'Meal-in-One'
Ruth enthusiastically endorsed the finished dish as an ideal 'meal-in-one' thanks to its blend of protein and vegetables. She wrote: "It fills the house with the most amazing smell and is just perfect for these dark Autumn evenings, Enjoy!!"
The recipe was met with immediate approval from fans and famous friends. Fellow Loose Women panelist Katie Piper simply commented, "Yum." Meanwhile, television presenter Lucy Alexander, known for Homes Under the Hammer, responded: "Love the top and can't wait for supper - see you soon!"
Ruth Langsford's autumn lamb stew stands as a testament to simple, satisfying cooking. By using chunky cuts of vegetable and meat to avoid a mushy texture and employing a long, slow cook in the oven, she has crafted a quintessential British comfort food recipe perfect for the season.
