Old-fashioned Shin of Beef Stew with Butter Beans and Crusted Onion Dumplings recipe | Delia Smith

Ingredients

• 1.35 kg shin of British beef or stewing beef in 5cm chunks
• 350g butter beans (or judion beans), pre-soaked and drained
• 50g plain flour
• 225g celery
• 225g carrots
• 225g swede
• 6 small onions (350g total weight)
• 4 good sprigs fresh thyme
• 3 bay leaves
• 850ml premium dry cider
• 1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
• salt and freshly milled black pepper
• 1 small onion, peeled and finely chopped
• 1 teaspoon groundnut, or other flavourless oil
• 225g self-raising flour, plus a little extra for dusting
• 1 heaped teaspoon mustard powder
• 110g shredded suet
• 1 heaped tablespoon snipped chives
• 3 tablespoons cold water