Mulligan Stew, also known as Irish Stew or Hobo Stew, is a traditional one-pot meal made with meat, starch, and vegetables. Its origins are unclear, but it is thought to have been a hand-down from Irish farmers. The recipe varies, but typically includes red meat, potatoes, root vegetables, and seasonings. It was a favorite among Irish immigrants and the homeless.
Nearly every cold-weather culture has its own version of Mulligan Stew, which is an inexpensive and filling meal that can be made with a pot, a fire, and whatever is available at the moment. Also called Irish Stew, Hobo Stew, and “hotch potch,” Mulligan Stew is a tradition-stew that combines meat, starch, and vegetables for a hearty, easy, and satisfying meal. Mulligan’s stew is perhaps the predecessor of the one-pot meal, the crock-pot staple of yesteryear.
No definite origin of Mulligan Stew and its name is found, but it is thought to have been a hand-down from the traditional Irish stew that many farmers relied on as their primary source of livelihood. Because so many Irish farmers raised sheep, lamb and mutton were the main ingredients in Mulligan Stew. Potatoes – though they were most likely omitted during the Potato Famine – and other root vegetables were stewed alongside the meat to create a rich, thick stew.
Irish culture has been particularly influential, particularly as Irish immigration to the United States peaked in the second half of the 19th century. The first mention of Mulligan’s Stew in print was made in 1904 in an issue of the Yukon’s Midnight Sun. Since many Irish immigrants also faced unfavorable conditions in the United States, this peasant dish translated and those who made the stew used beef and other available ingredients.
Also known as hobo stew, this meal was a favorite in camps where the homeless lived. Making Mulligan’s Stew often proved to be a cooperative effort in which each person contributed a separate ingredient. The man tasked with scooping and stewing the ingredients was reportedly the designated “mulligan mixer.” In this regard, Mulligan Stew echoed the story of “Stone Soup” in which three itinerant men, with the help of a city, made a soup made from stone and donated ingredients.
The recipes for Mulligan’s stew and its derivatives vary and are as diverse as the ingredients available to the cook. Virtually any type of red meat can be used, to which water, potatoes, root vegetables such as celery, carrots and turnips are added. You can add any seasonings, but salt and pepper are a must. Some variations also add tomatoes or tomato sauce to liven up the broth or flour to thicken.
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