I make this stew when the day runs long and the kitchen asks for calm. The pot warms fast, the veggies soften, and the broth turns rich. We sit, we sip, and the room goes quiet in a good way. The main idea is comfort, with simple moves that fit real life. It belongs with Vegetarian Soup Recipes and it plays nice with 1 Pot Meals. I keep a jar of beans ready, since I test many bowls. A friend swears by a 3 bean salad recipe healthy, and I tease that my spoon wins. When I crave big protein, I nod to a 13 bean soup recipe and borrow that spirit. The stew stays light yet filling. Bread helps. A second bowl tends to happen. Mushrooms go in and bring deep flavor, like Baked Mushrooms from Sunday supper. Beans make this a fit for Bean Recipes Dinner, and the whole pot feels like the Best Vegan Meals I cook at home. The path is short. The result tastes kind. If you can chop and stir, you can make this tonight.
Table of Contents
- 1 Key Takeaways
- 2 Easy Cozy Vegetable Stew Recipe
- 3 Ingredients for Cozy Vegetable Stew
- 4 How to Make Cozy Vegetable Stew
- 5 Tips for Making Cozy Vegetable Stew
- 6 Making Cozy Vegetable Stew Ahead of Time
- 7 Storing Leftover Cozy Vegetable Stew
- 8 Try these soups next
- 9 Cozy Vegetable Stew
- 10 Nutrition
1 Key Takeaways
I cook this stew when life feels loud and dinner needs calm. The pot starts warm. The veggies soften. The broth turns deep. We eat and the table slows.
It stays simple for weeknights. It works for guests. It fits Vegetarian Soup Recipes and keeps that spirit from the first spoon to the last crumb of bread.
Nancy made it for Nancy Cooks at https://www.nancycooks.com. The steps read clear. The result tastes cozy and clean.
2 Easy Cozy Vegetable Stew Recipe
I reach for this when I crave steady comfort. Vegetarian Soup Recipes guide how I stock the pantry. Vegetarian Soup Recipes shape how I season the pot. Two mentions, one promise. Dinner lands on time.
We cook with one pot, so cleanup stays light. This sits with vegan soup goals and with one pot vegan soup dinner plans. I keep heat gentle and aim for tender bite in each veggie.
Friends ask for seconds. I act casual and pass the ladle. The recipe grew in my kitchen at Nancy Cooks. I wrote notes after each test and trimmed any fuss. The path stays short. The flavor runs big.
3 Ingredients for Cozy Vegetable Stew
Olive oil I start the pot with this and let it shimmer. It brings soft fruit notes and helps the onions relax fast.
Yellow onion I dice it small for even cooking. It sets a sweet base that carries the whole pot.
Carrots I slice them into coins. They hold shape and bring gentle color and snap.
Celery I cut thin ribs. They melt into the broth and round the flavor.
Garlic I mince it fresh. It wakes the pot and keeps the stew bright.
Cremini mushrooms I quarter them. Think Baked Mushrooms mood inside a stew. They add depth and a woodsy edge.
Red bell pepper I chop it. It sweetens the mix and adds a gentle lift.
Zucchini I chop it into half moons. It goes soft but keeps a tender bite.
Brown lentils I rinse them. They cook in the pot and bring body like lentil stew night.
Chickpeas I drain and rinse. They add creaminess without cream and make a hearty vegetable bowl.
Diced tomatoes I pour the can with juice. It brightens the broth and ties the spices.
Vegetable broth I use low sodium. It gives me room to season well at the end.
Tomato paste I stir it in for color and gentle sweetness.
Dried thyme and oregano I add small spoonfuls. They love long simmer time.
Smoked paprika I use a light spoon. It brings warmth and a quiet smoke.
Bay leaf I add one and pull it before serving.
Kosher salt and black pepper I season in layers and taste again at the end.
Baby spinach I stir it in at the finish. It wilts fast and adds a fresh note.
Lemon juice I finish with a squeeze. The stew wakes up and tastes clean.
Parsley and bread I like herbs on top and warm slices on the side.
4 How to Make Cozy Vegetable Stew
Step one Warm oil in a heavy pot over medium heat. Add onion, carrots, and celery. Stir until soft and glossy.
Step two Add garlic and mushrooms. Cook until the mushrooms give liquid and take on color. Keep the heat steady.
Step three Add bell pepper and zucchini. Stir for a short minute to soften edges.
Step four Stir in lentils, chickpeas, diced tomatoes, broth, and tomato paste. Mix until the paste dissolves.
Step five Add thyme, oregano, smoked paprika, bay leaf, salt, and pepper. Bring to a gentle simmer.
Step six Cover and cook on low until lentils turn tender. Stir now and then to keep the bottom happy.
Step seven Uncover and simmer to thicken. Stir in spinach. Finish with lemon juice. Taste and adjust.
5 Tips for Making Cozy Vegetable Stew
I brown the mushrooms well. That small move builds fond and gives a richer base. A wooden spoon helps lift it clean.
I salt in stages and keep broth low in sodium. That way the finish reads bright not flat. Easy weeknight vegetable stew loves this balance.
I serve with lemon wedges and herbs. The table looks fresh and the bowls taste lighter. This fits meatless soup ideas and still fills the crew.
6 Making Cozy Vegetable Stew Ahead of Time
I cook the base a day early for busy nights. Lentils and chickpeas hold texture. Veggies stay friendly in the fridge.
I cool the pot before storing. The next day I thin with a splash of broth. One pot vegan soup dinner returns fast and steady.
For guests I keep spinach and lemon for the last minute. The color pops and the flavor stays bright. Plant based soup dishes feel simple and fresh.
7 Storing Leftover Cozy Vegetable Stew
I pack leftovers in tight containers. The stew thickens by day two. A little broth loosens it back to a gentle scoop.
In the freezer it rests for two months. I label and date for easy grabs. Reheat on low and stir until steam rises.
This fits Vegetarian Soup Recipes for meal prep and for calm lunches. Healthy vegetable stew recipe plans make the week feel lighter.
8 Try these soups next
9 Cozy Vegetable Stew
Vegetarian Soup Recipes Cozy One Pot Vegetable Stew
Ingredients
For the Stew
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 1 yellow onion diced
- 3 carrots sliced
- 3 celery ribs sliced
- 3 cloves garlic minced
- 8 ounces cremini mushrooms quartered
- 1 red bell pepper chopped
- 1 zucchini chopped
- 1 cup brown lentils rinsed
- 1 can 15 ounces chickpeas drained and rinsed
- 1 can 14 ounces diced tomatoes with juice
- 5 cups vegetable broth low sodium
- 2 tablespoons tomato paste
- 1 teaspoon dried thyme
- 1 teaspoon dried oregano
- 1 teaspoon smoked paprika
- 1 bay leaf
- 1 teaspoon kosher salt plus more to taste
- 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
- 2 cups baby spinach
- 1 tablespoon lemon juice
For Serving
- Chopped fresh parsley
- Crusty bread
- Extra lemon wedges
Instructions
For the Stew
- Warm olive oil in a large heavy pot over medium heat.
- Add onion, carrots, and celery. Cook, stirring, until the vegetables soften, 6 to 8 minutes.
- Stir in garlic and mushrooms. Cook until the mushrooms give off their liquid and start to brown, about 5 minutes.
- Add bell pepper and zucchini. Cook 2 to 3 minutes.
- Stir in lentils, chickpeas, diced tomatoes, broth, and tomato paste until the paste dissolves.
- Season with thyme, oregano, smoked paprika, bay leaf, salt, and pepper.
- Bring to a gentle boil, then reduce heat to low, cover, and simmer until lentils are tender, 25 to 30 minutes. Stir a few times to prevent sticking.
- Remove the lid and simmer 5 minutes more to thicken slightly.
- Stir in spinach until wilted, 1 to 2 minutes. Add lemon juice and taste for seasoning. Remove bay leaf.
For Serving
- Ladle stew into bowls.
- Top with parsley. Serve with bread and lemon wedges.
10 Nutrition
Serving size one bowl. Calories two eighty five. Sugar eight grams. Sodium six forty milligrams. Fat seven grams. Saturated fat one gram. Carbohydrates forty three grams. Fiber twelve grams. Protein fourteen grams. Cholesterol zero milligrams.
Recipe by Nancy for Nancy Cooks at https://www.nancycooks.com. Short keywords used vegan soup, lentil stew, hearty vegetable. Longtail keywords used easy weeknight vegetable stew, one pot vegan soup dinner, healthy vegetable stew recipe. Main term Vegetarian Soup Recipes used through the page.
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