What is Welsh Cawl? [History of the Welsh Stew]

Although popular in Wales, Welsh Cawl is a curious dish for those outside the borders. Often enjoyed as a family meal and sometimes even as a school dinner in Wales, this classic dish varies in different regions, but what exactly is it?

Welsh Cawl is a traditional Welsh dish made with Welsh Lamb (or Beef) and seasonal vegetables such as leeks, swede, onions, cabbage and carrots, It is typically slow-cooked and served in a meaty broth similar to a stew.

Keep reading to find out more about this famous Welsh food, including its origins, ingredients, and some more modern variations.

What is Welsh Cawl?

Cawl is a simple, hearty stew perfect for cold evenings that can be waiting for you in the slow cooker when you get home. A typical Welsh cawl recipe consists of slow-cooked fresh seasonal vegetables and mainly lamb or beef, Cawl is a filling stew best-served piping hot with bread and Carmarthenshire cheese.

If you have never had Cawl it is very much like an English beef or vegetable stew cooked very much the same way but with some added ingredients and a timely history. Best served in a deep bowl in the winter and autumn months, it is simple and easy to cook and has been a long-time served family favourite in all of Wales.

Best made with Welsh Lamb and our famous local Leeks, Cawl needs to simmer nicely for around 3-4 hours. Ideally, it is best to leave it overnight and let your broth marinade in all the goodness of the vegetables and stock. We like to season with parsley, rosemary & thyme for flavour and really bring out the flavour of the lamb.

History of Welsh Cawl

Traditionally cooked in pots or cauldrons, the first Welsh Cawl, or Lobscouse as they call it in North Wales, was brewed over fire-heated stones as early as 2500BC. Ingredients were added as the centuries went by and new produce and resources were available to lead us to the common recipe we have today.

This Welsh winter warmer was originally served as two courses, with the hot brew served first in a wooden bowl accompanied by a wooden spoon so people would not burn themselves. The meat, usually lamb, and vegetables were then served as the main course in the cold months.

Welsh Cawl made it to the Great British Bake Off in 2013 and now has its own Cawl Crawl in Carmarthenshire, where you can try the top-picked places to try some hearty Welsh Stew with some chunky bread and local cheese. It is also recognised as one of the national dishes of Wales.

What is in a Welsh Cawl?

So what goes into a Welsh Cawl? Nowadays we use mainly Welsh lamb on the bone in our stews usually from the leg or shoulder which gives the broth a strong flavoursome taste after it has been cooked in the pot for hours. However, beef is a very close popular alternative being more common in certain regions of Wales, all having their own variation passed down by families (source: National Geographic).

Back in the 1900s, after they had finished with their leftover lamb or pig that had been cooked for the day’s meal, the leftover meat would be thrown in the pot for the Cawl. You will see many adaptions that originate from this ‘peasant’ dish such as bacon, ham, mutton, salt beef or beef.

Leeks and swede were the original vegetables in the stew as they were the only ones that were widely available, onions, cabbage and carrots were then added with meat and some more creative seasoning such as rosemary, thyme, and parsley (source: National Geographic).

Vegetarian Cawl is also widely popular, even amongst meat eaters and is just as delicious. Veggie Cawl hosts all the same seasonal vegetables and seasoning with added vegetable stock and simply replacing the meat with butterbeans (source: BBC CountryFile).

What Does Cawl Mean in Welsh?

The nearest translation is Stew or Broth however the word Cawl originates from the Latin word Caulis meaning Stem or Cabbage (source: Meat Promotion Wales).

How Do You Pronounce Cawl in Welsh?

The Welsh word 'Cawl' is pronounced as 'Cow-al'. Think Simon Cowell.

Who Invented Cawl?

It is not known exactly who invented Cawl, however, it is believed to have been created by the farming people of Wales, using what ingredients they had, during difficult times as early as the 11^th century (source: Wikipedia).

Is Welsh Cawl Vegetarian?

No, a traditional Welsh Cawl recipe would contain meat such as Welsh Lamb or Beef, as well as meat stock. However, it's possible to adapt the recipe to be suitable for vegetarians or vegans. Check out my vegetarian Welsh Cawl recipe to find out how.