James Martin served up a tasty beef stew with fluffy dumplings for the festive season on Home Comforts at Christmas.

James says: “This is the ultimate cold-weather comforter that will stick to your ribs after a hearty wintry walk.”

The ingredients for the stew are: 1kg silverside beef, cut into large pieces, 1 tsp plain flour, 2 tbsp vegetable oil, 2 onions, cut into chunks, 3 carrots, scrubbed and cut into large pieces, 4 sticks celery, cut into large pieces, 1 tbsp tomato purée, 300ml red wine, 500ml beef stock, 2 sprigs fresh parsley, 1 bay leaf, 3 sprigs fresh thyme, 2 garlic cloves, finely sliced, 25g butter and 1 tsp redcurrant jelly.

For the dumplings: 200g plain flour, plus extra for dusting, 1½ tsp baking powder, 100g suet, shredded, 2 tbsp finely chopped flatleaf parsley and sea salt and freshly ground black pepper.