Put all the casserole ingredients apart from the cornflour in a large ovenproof dish with a lid and combine well. Let it sit for a few hours to soften and marinate the meat
Preheat the oven to gas 4 / 180C / 350°F
Put the dish in the oven. Total cooking time is 1 hr 45 minutes but you need to take the dish out and add the doughballs after an hour and 25 minutes
To make the doughballs, combine the dry ingredients and add just enough water to make a stiff dough
Split the dough into 8 and form into balls with floured hands. They'll expand in the oven
Take the casserole from the oven after 1 hr and 25 minutes. Place the doughballs on top of it and replace the lid. Put back in the oven for the remaining 20 minutes. If you like them crispy on top leave the lid off
When done, remove the bay leaf and thicken the gravy by stirring in the cornflour & water mixture. Serve with mashed potato. The doughballs should be fluffy and suck up the gravy from the stew
You can flavour the doughballs with rosemary, parsley or thyme if you like. My grannie made the best doughballs, we would fight over them lol
