Hearty Vegan Stew Recipe (2024)

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Hearty Vegan Stew Italian style featuring gnocchi dumplings, meaty jackfruit, peas and carrots and a thick red wine gravy. No beef, one pot comforting stew that checks all the boxes. Rich, savory and whole foods plant based recipe.

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Vegan Stew

You’ll find a number of plant based stews on this blog, it’s really hard for me to actually choose a favorite. From the now famous jackfruit stew to my soy curl veggie stew, spiced chickpea stew, and this comforting mushroom bourguignon, they are all equally delicious stews but also unique in the way they deliver their deliciousness.

And if you make a loaf of this crusty bread to dunk into it you are without a doubt the king / queen of your castle!

Recipe Tips + FAQ

  • Which jackfruit should you use in this stew ? Glad you asked as this is very important! The jackfruit has to be young unripe, so before it gets sweet. My favorite for making stews are these organic jackfruit pieces i buy in bulk from amazon. You could also use canned jackfruit packed in water / brine not syrup. Make sure to rinse it well before cooking.
  • How do you thicken the stew ? Before adding the veggie stock to the pot I whisked in some whole wheat pastry flour. This way the stew naturally thickens as it cooks and no lumps are formed. If you prefer a thinner stew or want to make it gluten-free you can omit the flour. The gnocchi will add lots of body and texture too.
  • Can I use potatoes instead of gnocchi ? Sure you can use about 1 pound of diced golden potatoes if you prefer or any homemade dumplings.
  • Storage: The leftovers keep well in the fridge up to 4 days. They can also be frozen in lidded freezer proof containers or mason jars up to 4 months. Take care not to overfill the jars or containers and remember to thaw out in the fridge the night before reheating.
  • How to serve it: Since this is already such a hearty meal, there’s no need for rice or pasta. A thick slice of homemade bread charred under the broiler and rubbed with garlic aka bruschetta is as perfect as it’s gonna get. However you can top it with these olive oil mashed potatoes and turn it into an awesome Italian style Shepherd’s pie.

more hearty stews

Vegan Shepherd’s Pie

Vegan Zuppa Toscana

Mushroom Bourguignon

Red Lentil Stew.

Hearty Vegan Stew Recipe (8)

4.67 from 9 votes

Hearty Vegan Stew

Hearty vegan stew Italian style featuring gnocchi dumplings, meaty jackfruit, peas and carrots and a thick red wine gravy. No beef, one pot comforting stew that checks all the boxes. Rich, savory and whole foods plant based recipe.

Print Recipe

Prep Time:15 minutes mins

Cook Time:1 hour hr

Total Time:1 hour hr 15 minutes mins

Ingredients

  • 1 yellow onion diced
  • 2 carrots sliced into rounds
  • 3 cloves garlic minced
  • 2 lb jackfruit pieces rinsed well
  • 1 lb gnocchi Italian potato dumplings
  • 1 cup fresh tomatoes diced
  • 3/4 cup frozen green peas (thawed out and rinsed)
  • 8 sprigs fresh thyme
  • 3 whole cloves
  • 2 bay leaves
  • 1 tbsp smoked paprika you can sub sweet paprika
  • 1/3 cup whole wheat pastry flour
  • 1/3 cup fresh Italian parsley roughly chopped
  • 6 cups vegetable stock low sodium
  • 1/3 cup red wine
  • sea salt + black pepper to taste

US Customary - Metric

Instructions

  • Preheat a heavy bottom dutch oven over medium low heat and sautee the onion and carrot in a drop of oil or a splash of water until the onion is translucent. (omit oil to be WFPB & Plantricious compliant).

  • Stir in the garlic and cook a few seconds until fragrant.

  • Add the jackfruit pieces, thyme, bay and the red wine. Simmer until the wine is almost evaporated. (It's very important that you allow the wine to evaporate or the stew won't taste right).

  • Meanwhile whisk the flour with the vegetable stock until combined and add it to the pot with the jackfruit. Bring to a simmer and stir in the paprika and cloves.

  • Cook everything together for 45 minutes until the jackfruit is fork tender.

  • Stir in the gnocchi, tomatoes and green peas and cook a few extra minutes until the gnocchi float to the top and the green peas are cooked through to your liking.

  • Discard the thyme sprigs and whole cloves and season the stew to your taste with sea salt and black pepper.

  • Stir in the fresh parsley and serve!

Slow Cooker Method:

  • Saute the onion and carrot with a pinch of salt until translucent. Stir in the garlic and cook 30 seconds longer.

  • Add the cooked onion, carrot and garlic to a slow cooker with the jackfruit, red wine and all the spices.

  • Whisk in the flour and veggie stock and add them to the slow cooker. Cover and cook on slow for 5-6 hours or on hight 2 - 3 hours. Add the gnocchi and green peas and return back to high heat for 20 minutes or so until the gnocchi are cooked through. Season to taste with salt and pepper and serve.

Notes

  • You can use about 1 pound of diced golden potatoes instead of gnocchi or any homemade dumplings.
  • The leftovers keep well in the fridge up to 4 days. They can also be frozen in lidded freezer proof containers or mason jars up to 4 months. Take care not to overfill the jars or containers and remember to thaw out in the fridge the night before reheating.
  • WFPB and Plantricious - for the recipe to be fully compliant you must omit all oil and make sure to use a whole grain gnocchi made with whole wheat, brown rice or corn flour.
  • If using canned jackfruit but would like to give it a brown color, simply rinse it and marinate in 2 tablespoons of soy sauce for 15 minutes before adding it to the stew.

Nutrition

Calories: 508kcal | Carbohydrates: 116g | Protein: 10g | Fat: 2g | Saturated Fat: 1g | Sodium: 458mg | Potassium: 661mg | Fiber: 10g | Sugar: 6g | Vitamin A: 6992IU | Vitamin C: 32mg | Calcium: 187mg | Iron: 7mg

Course: Main Course

Cuisine: Italian

Keyword: jackfruit, meatless stew, vegan stew

Servings: 4 people

Calories: 508kcal

Author: Florentina

:

Hearty Vegan Stew Recipe (2024)

FAQs

What is vegetable stew made of? ›

Ingredients & Substitutes

Onion, carrots, celery, bell peppers, zucchini, and yellow squash add flavor, freshness, and nutrients. Feel free to customize this stew recipe and add in different veggies. Garlic cloves add a delicious garlicky flavor. Diced tomatoes add moisture.

What makes stew more flavorful? ›

Tips To Give Your Beef Stew A Flavour Punch
  • Five Tips To Make Your Beef Stew The Best.
  • Add A Little Heat.
  • Good Quality Stock Goes A Long Way.
  • Add Vegetables For More Flavour.
  • Soup Mixes Are An Ideal Seasoning And Thickening Aid.
  • Serve Your Beef Stew In A New Way.

What vegetables are good in stew? ›

Let's hear it for the vegetables that are like the last hurrah in this hearty crowd-pleasing dish. Although I added carrots, little red potatoes, rutabaga and cremini mushrooms, you have plenty of options. Parsnip, turnip, pearl onions, squash and fennel will also work.

Is vegetable stew good for you? ›

Conclusion. Call it vegetable soup or stew, these flavourful broths loaded with a wealth of healthful nutrients, are extremely beneficial for overall health and wellness. Not only does it aid in weight loss and eases digestion but also prevents gastric anomalies, strengthens bones and promotes heart functioning.

How to thicken a vegetarian stew? ›

Adding a roux—a mixture of flour and butter—is a classic way to thicken dishes ranging from gravies to stews. While you can't add butter to vegan dishes, you can still use flour to add some substance to watery sauces. All types of flour work well for thickening, including wheat flour, coconut flour, and chickpea flour.

What adds richness to a stew? ›

If were talking while it's being made; garlic, onion, various herbs, “horse chester sauce” tomato paste, stone ground mustard, or even a small splash of A1 sauce will all “rich up” the broth. So will sauteing the veggies in butter before adding to the stew.

How to make a stew taste richer? ›

If it tastes off-balance, add some finishing flavors to bring it to the next level. Try adding soy sauce or Worcestershire for extra savory (or umami) flavor, a touch of honey or brown sugar for sweetness, lemon zest or vinegar for brightness or chili powder or smoked paprika for spice and depth.

Does stew taste better the longer it cooks? ›

Don't Stew the Stew Too Long Either

It might seem that cooking your beef stew on low for 8 hours will make it even better, but that is not true at all.

What are the best potatoes for stew? ›

There is no real wrong answer for your beef stew potatoes — russets or red potatoes will work fine — but Yukon Gold potatoes have the best balance of texture and flavor to complement a meaty stew.

Should you saute vegetables for stew? ›

While certain vegetables can work just fine added directly to simmering soups and stews (say, carrots and celery), other vegetables (onions, garlic, and the like) will almost always need at least a brief sweat in a fat-based liquid before adding the remaining ingredients.

When to add celery to stew? ›

Once the meat is tender - but not falling apart, add the potatoes, celery, carrots and butternut squash. Pour over another 2 cups of beef broth and enough water to cover the vegetables. Raise heat and bring to a boil, then reduce heat and simmer partially covered for about 30 minutes - until the vegetables are tender.

Can you eat stew every day? ›

While stew can be a healthy part of a balanced diet, it is important to ensure that you are getting all of the necessary nutrients and vitamins that your body needs.

Do I cook potatoes before adding to stew? ›

Pre-cooking the potatoes is not necessary for most stew recipes. When added raw, the potatoes will absorb the flavors from the stew, creating a rich and delicious taste. However, if you prefer your potatoes to be softer and creamier, you can parboil them for a few minutes before adding them to the stew.

Is it OK to eat vegetable soup everyday? ›

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.

What is the traditional stew made of? ›

Ingredients can include any combination of vegetables and may include meat, especially tougher meats suitable for slow-cooking, such as beef, pork, venison, rabbit, lamb, poultry, sausages, and seafood. While water can be used as the stew-cooking liquid, stock is also common.

What's the difference between vegetable soup and vegetable stew? ›

Soup Uses More Liquid

In soup, the liquid is the primary ingredient. Soup can be completely liquified or it can consist of other elements (like meat and vegetables) that are fully submerged in water, stock, or broth. Stew, meanwhile, is typically "chunkier." It contains just enough liquid to cover the main ingredients.

What are the main components of a stew? ›

Ingredients in a stew can include any combination of vegetables, such as carrots, potatoes, beans, onions, peppers, tomatoes, etc., and frequently with meat, especially tougher meats suitable for moist, slow cooking, such as beef chuck or round. Poultry, pork, lamb or mutton, sausages, and seafood are also used.

What does it mean to stew vegetables? ›

To stew is to slowly cook food, which results in a soup-like food called a stew. To stew also means to brood angrily. If you cook something slowly, like beef or vegetables, you stew it. The result of stewing is also called stew, which is usually chunky, like a thick soup.

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