Hearty slow cooker vegetable stew recipe

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It is that time, the colder days are rolling in, the darker mornings and evenings are here and the slow cooker is out! This hearty vegetable stew is perfect for those cooler days, not only for dinner but as a lunch option too. If you are looking to try and up your vegetable intake, this easy vegetable stew recipe is perfect with a great combination of veggies.

I choose to cook this in the slow cooker, however, if you would prefer to cook it on the hob or in the oven, you can do that also.

I have bulked this recipe out with some green lentils, not only for an additional flavour but they are also a great source of protein, helping keep you full for longer. You could take these out should you wish, or even change them for your favourite alternatives such as cannellini beans or kidney beans. Another great alternative is a tin of mixed beans.

You may also notice in this recipe that I have decided to go for dry herbs, this is just a choice based on what I have in the house at the time. I have a wide range of herbs and spices as they can make a huge difference to any meal.

If you would prefer fresh herbs, you can use these instead. This recipe is so versatile, you can make the adaptation to suit your needs and tastes.

Slow cooker vegetable stew recipe

Ingredients

• 2 Courgettes – Chunky chopped
• 3 Carrots – Peeled and chunky chopped
• 3 Celery sticks – Roughly chopped
• 3 Peppers – Cut into large chunks (I went with a variety of peppers but love red peppers for some flavour!)
• 1 Onions – Finely chopped
• 2 Tins of chopped tomatoes
• 1 Tin of green lentils drained
• 2 Tsp Very lazy garlic (or 2 chopped garlic cloves)
• 2 Tbs Dried thyme
• 1 Tsp Ground cumin
• 1 Tsp Paprika
• 1 Vegetable stock cube

Instructions

• Pop all of your ingredients into the slow cooker.
• Add water to 1 of the empty tins of tomatoes and add this into the slow cooker.
• Season well with salt and pepper.
• Pop the slow cooker on high for 4 hours or on low for 8 hours.
• Enjoy it on its own, topped with cheese or with some crusty bread.

If you would like to download this recipe as a printable recipe card, you can do so below.

As mentioned above, this easy recipe is cooked in the slow cooker. However, if you would like to cook it on the hob, you can do it in a large pot on medium-high heat for about an hour. Just make sure you’re able to give it a regular stir to stop it from sticking to the pan and to keep an eye on the cooking time.

If you have found this recipe whilst looking for a way to use up leftover vegetables, but don’t have the ones on the list, don’t go anywhere. This recipe can be adapted to suit your taste, which is a good thing in this household as we have so many different tastes!

Alternative vegetables for this veg stew

• Green beans – This is a great addition to the stew as it absorbs the flavour.
• Root vegetables – We already have carrots in there but you can add things such as parsnips, sweet potatoes and suede. All of these hearty vegetables are great in this stew.
• Green peas – If you are not a fan of lentils and beans, how about switching them out for green peas for a bit of freshness?
• Mushrooms – In a stew, you would either like to pop in mushrooms in quarters or button mushrooms. Both work just as well in the stew.

This is made using fresh vegetables and I think it works better than way, I am a fan of frozen vegetables, however, I find they become a little too mushy and work best in vegetable soup rather than stew,

As well as switching out the vegetables, you are able to change the pulses too, with a variety of choices to pick from. If you are unable to get your hands on the green lentils or fancy a change, here are some suggestions.

Different pulses and beans to add to your vegetable stew

• White beans
• Kidney beans
• Puy lentils
• Red lentils

How to store vegetable stew

If you have made a batch of vegetable stew but are unable to eat it all on the first day, don’t panic.

Allow it to cool and then place it in the fridge in an airtight container. It will be good for about 3 days before it starts to go a little too mushy.

You can then either choose to reheat in the microwave for about 2 1/2 minutes or in a pan on medium heat for a few minutes.

The beauty of this recipe is how much you can adapt it, it is already a vegetarian stew recipe how this is made but for me, the best part is that it is a great way to get veggies into the kids!

This is a hearty meal in itself and makes a great weeknight dinner, after a busy day, there is nothing better than coming home to enjoy a big bowl of comfort food. I have been enjoying this at lunch on the go too, heating it up before I head to work and keeping it warm in my thermos flask. It is the best part of a busy day at work!

We are going to be trying out some new stew and casserole recipes in the coming weeks, alongside trying to find those family favourite meals for us all to enjoy. Please stop by later in the month to see what we have been up to.

In the meantime, here are some of our favourite comfort foods to pick from.

Slow cooker beef stew – If you are looking for a meat option for stew, this is the perfect place to get started and it comes with dumplings!

Slow cooker rice pudding – It is that time of the year when we get to enjoy puddings such as this rice pudding recipe, I don’t think there is a better comfort pudding.

Comforting cottage pie for the whole family – Another firm favourite for this time of the year!