British · Dinner

Vegetable Stew

Potatoes, carrots, parsnips and onion simmered in a seasoned stock until tender. Four servings in 55 minutes.

Not yet ratedThis recipe has no ratings yet 55 min total Serves 4 servings Easy
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Make Ahead and Storage

Keeps in the fridge for up to 4 days and thickens overnight. Freezes for up to 3 months, though the potatoes soften.

Vegetable Stew: The Method

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  1. Heat the oil in a large pot over medium heat. Cook the onions for 6 minutes. Stir in the flour and purée and cook for 2 minutes.

  2. Add the stock gradually, stirring, then the potatoes, carrots, parsnips, bay leaves, thyme and salt.

  3. Bring to a boil, then lower to a gentle simmer. Cover and cook for 30 minutes until the vegetables are tender.

  4. Add the peas and cook for 3 minutes. Remove the bay leaves, taste and adjust the salt.

Tips for Success

  • Cut the vegetables to a similar size so they finish together.
  • If the stew is too thin, mash a few potato pieces into it.
  • Add the peas last to keep them green.

Behind the Recipe

A winter stew should not need a recipe so much as a list. Root vegetables, stock, an onion and some herbs, left to simmer until the kitchen smells of dinner.

Cut everything to the same size, about 3 cm, so the carrots do not end up raw while the potatoes collapse. Parsnips go in with the carrots; they sweeten the stock.

A spoon of tomato purée and a spoon of flour, cooked with the onion for 2 minutes, give the liquid body. Without them the stock stays thin and watery.

Do not boil it hard. A steady simmer keeps the vegetables whole. Season at the end. Stock cubes vary a lot in salt, and the stew reduces as it cooks. Dumplings dropped on top for the last part of the cooking turn this stew into something more substantial. Use whatever roots are cheapest at the time, since turnip or swede replace the parsnips without changing the method.

Serving Ideas

Crusty bread · Dumplings · Mustard · Green cabbage

Swaps and Variations

  • Fresh herbs work in place of the dried thyme at roughly three times the quantity — a teaspoon of dried is about a tablespoon of fresh, chopped.

Questions About Vegetable Stew

How long does Vegetable Stew take to make?

About 55 minutes in total — 15 minutes of preparation and 40 minutes of cooking. The recipe serves 4.

What are the key tips for making Vegetable Stew?

Cut the vegetables to a similar size so they finish together. If the stew is too thin, mash a few potato pieces into it. Add the peas last to keep them green.

What should I serve with Vegetable Stew?

Crusty bread; Dumplings; Mustard; Green cabbage.

Can Vegetable Stew be made ahead or frozen?

Keeps in the fridge for up to 4 days and thickens overnight. Freezes for up to 3 months, though the potatoes soften.

Is Vegetable Stew suitable for a special diet?

This recipe is vegetarian, vegan, dairy-free and no added sugar. Those labels are checked against the ingredient list, so a dish is only marked when nothing in it contradicts the claim.

How many calories are in Vegetable Stew?

About 328 kcal per serving, with 9 g protein, 55 g carbohydrate and 8 g fat. The figures are calculated from the ingredient list and are an estimate.

Vegetable Stew Nutrition

Per serving, calculated from the ingredient list. Treat these as an estimate — brands and cuts vary.

328Calories
9gProtein
55gCarbs
8gFat
11gFibre
12gSugar
1310mgSodium

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Written and tested by Turab

One person, one kitchen — no test kitchen, no team. How every recipe on this site is checked before it goes up.