One Hearty Vegetable Stew Recipe (Vegan, GF) (2024)

FAQs

What are the healthiest vegetables for stew? ›

Carrots and other root vegetables, onions, chard, spinach, and lettuce are ideal for stewing while potatoes, leeks, cabbage, and porcini mushrooms are optimal for braising. Browse the photo gallery above for stewing and braising tips for seven different vegetables.

Not only does it aid in weight loss and eases digestion but also prevents gastric anomalies, strengthens bones and promotes heart functioning. So, what are you waiting for, select a few vegetables of your choice, add some spices for seasoning and fabricate your very own vegetable soup recipe and amaze your guests.

It is possible to eat stew as part of a healthy diet, but it is not recommended to rely solely on stew as the sole source of nutrition. Stew can be a nutritious and satisfying meal that can provide a variety of nutrients depending on the ingredients used.

Root Vegetables

Carrots are a go-to for stews and braises, but look beyond them to parsnips, turnips, rutabaga, celeriac, and sweet potatoes. Be sure cut them on the larger size so they don't dissolve into mush.

Mix one teaspoon cornflour with a tablespoon of room temperature water and add to your stew. Then bring to the boil and cook until desired thickness is reached. Cornflour is a great gluten-free thickener. It has a slightly more gelatinous texture, so only add a teaspoon at time or your sauce may become a bit goopy.

Arrowroot Flour: A thickener for roux, sauce, and fruit pie filling. Potato Starch (Not Potato Flour): Use in place of cornstarch if you can't eat corn. White Rice Flour: An all-purpose flour for breading and thickening. Sweet Rice Flour (Mochiko): Thickens gravy and sauces, and is used to make noodles.

Being water-based, a broth is great for your hydration levels and is low in calories. Because you're also drinking the water the veggies were boiled in, you're not throwing away any soluble nutrients. All in all, vegan bone broth is as comforting as a cup of tea, but far more nourishing.

“Vegetable broth works at multiple levels- it's a healing food, makes the dish alkaline [which helps protect healthy cells and balance essential mineral levels], adds additional multiple nutrients, plus you can customise it according to your needs,” says Delhi-based Kavita Devgan, a popular nutritionist and author.

For those wanting a more intense regime, a vegetable soup can replace two meals a day for five to seven days without any negative side effects. Although much of the weight loss will be fluid, sometimes all we need to feel leaner and healthier is a flatter stomach and a kilo or two less on the scales.

Do you cook vegetables before putting in stew? ›

Whether it's the classic French mirepoix of onions, celery, and carrots cooked in butter, the New Orleans holy trinity of onions, celery, and bell peppers sweated in oil, or perhaps just some leeks and garlic cooked down in olive oil, most stews and soups start the same way: sautéeing veggies.

Tomato-free swap: Roasted red peppers, refreshing cucumber slices, roasted beets, and figs are just a few options to replace that slightly sweet, juicy tomato. You might find that you prefer your gourmet tomato substitute!

Turnips are an ideal potato replacement as they have a similar texture. Turnips can be prepared n several different ways, including baking, boiling, roasting, or steaming.

To the pot add finely chopped carrots, celery stalks, onion or shallot, season with salt and pepper, then saute until the vegetables are very tender, about 10 minutes. The key to making this Beef Stew melt in your mouth is to make sure the vegetables are all finely chopped.