Scottish stovies are a great dish to prepare whenever you feel hungry, and I will be showing you its proper recipe today.
Scottish stovies are usually made from leftover scrap meat, onions, and potatoes to aid wastage. The term ‘stovies’ comes from the way the dish is cooked. The potatoes are stewed slowly rather than boiled. They refer to the process of stewing as ‘to stove’.
For Scottish stovies, you need to put butter and onions in a pan. Cook them and add swede, celery, and carrots. Put meat and potatoes in the pot and bring them to a boil. In the end, add corned beef and serve with crusty bread.
Scottish stovies are yummy and healthy as well. They are really easy to make, and to make them, you will have to follow the detailed procedure given below.
Table of Contents
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- First, you need to brown the meat well before adding the stock. Browning adds a rich flavor to the meat.
- Always chop the vegetables to an even size so that they cook properly and cook at the same time.
- Avoid cooking vegetables for a prolonged duration as they can turn mushy.
- Do not stir it often, as excessive stirring can break the vegetables.
Recipe Variation for Different Diets
- Keto Version: Swap swede with cauliflower, and instead of potatoes, use mushrooms. Also replace crusty bread with keto bread.
- Gluten-Free Version: Check if the corned beef is gluten-free or not; also swap crusty bread with gluten-free bread.

Storing And Reheating This Recipe
Storing
- Once the stew cools down completely, add it to an airtight container. Then refrigerate it at a temperature of 4 degrees C. This way it will remain fresh for 3-4 days.
- If you want, you can also store it for a longer duration by freezing it. All you need to do is transfer the cooled stew to a freezer-safe container. Make sure you leave some space in between for the expansion and then save it for 2 to 3 months.
Reheating
- Oven: First, preheat the oven to 160 degrees C. Now transfer these to an oven-safe dish. Cover it with foil and heat for 20 to 30 minutes. Stir the stew in between; heat it till the temperature reaches 74 degrees C.
- Stovetop: Take a saucepan, add the stew to it, and heat over medium to low heat. Stir it continuously, and if needed, you can add broth to it to fix the consistency.
What To Serve With This Recipe
The Scottish Stovies can be served along with some flavourful dinner rolls, or even crusty garlic bread; it also makes a perfect option to be added. You can also enjoy it with roasted vegetables or cauliflower mash, making it a healthy and satisfying add-on.
Printable Version
Scottish Stovies Recipe
Method
- Place a pan on medium flame. Add in the butter and melt. Then, add onions to it and cook them for 10 minutes.
- Now, add in swede, celery, and carrots. Cook them for about 6 minutes.
- Add and stir the meat, potatoes and pour the stock. Season properly and bring to a boil before lowering the heat.
- Now, cover it and cook it for 1 hour and 30 minutes until the vegetables become soft.
- Add in corned beef and cook for 20 minutes. Then, serve the dish with crusty bread.
Tried this recipe?
Let us know how it was!FAQs About Scottish Stovies
Why are my vegetables falling apart?
In order to prevent your vegetables from losing their texture, make sure you cut them in a slightly larger size and do not overcook them. Also, do not stir them continuously, as it ends up breaking their texture.
How to fix watery stew?
If this stew becomes watery, you can fix it by letting it cook on simmer, removing the lid for 15 minutes. You can also add some flour or cornstarch slurry to fix the consistency of the stew.
Why is the stew so greasy?
This usually turns out to be greasy when there is too much fat rendered in the broth. The best way to get rid of that excessive fat is by skimming the top layer with a spoon.
Why is the broth cloudy?
This usually happens when you cook it at a higher temperature, as it emulsifies fats and proteins in the liquid. The best way to cook it is to keep it on a gentle simmer.
More Recipes That You Can Try
Grilled Bobby Flay Hanger Steak RecipeÂ
Gordon Ramsay Steak Sandwich RecipeÂ
Gordon Ramsay Steak Pie RecipeÂ
Conclusion
The absolutely delicious Scottish Stovies are all about slow-cooked potatoes, some meat, onions, and rich stock, creating a warming and filling dish. This simple, party-ready, and full-of-flavor preparation is the kind of meal that will make you want to use your leftover ingredients to turn them into something new and tasty.




