When it comes to hearty and comforting meals, stews have always been a go-to option. These vegan stew recipes will prove to you that they are far from a compromise. Bursting with vibrant flavors, nourishing plant-based proteins, and an array of colorful vegetables, these vegan stews offer a delightful alternative to their meaty counterparts.
Classic vegan stew ingredients
Whether you follow a vegan or vegetarian lifestyle or simply enjoy exploring new culinary horizons, meatless stews are a delicious way to add variety and wholesomeness to your meals. With a little creativity and the right combination of ingredients, vegan stews can be just as satisfying and fulfilling as their meat-based counterparts.
- Root vegetables – Carrots, potatoes, parsnips, and turnips are commonly used in vegan stews. They provide a hearty texture, earthy flavors and a natural sweetness.
- Mushrooms – Adding mushrooms is essential to give the stew a rich umami flavor and a meaty texture. They are often used to create depth and complexity in the dish.
- Leafy greens – Ingredients like spinach, kale, or Swiss chard are often added towards the end of cooking to introduce freshness, vibrant color, and even more nutrients.
- Legumes – Lentils, peas, corn, chickpeas, kidney beans, and other legumes make meatless stews more filling.
- Plant-based proteins – Tofu, seitan, tempeh, or branded meat alternatives can give you the meat texture that you may miss.
- Vegetable broth
- Tomato sauce – They add acidity and tanginess to vegan stews.
- Herbs and spices – To elevate the flavors, aromatic herbs and spices play a crucial role. Fragrant additions like rosemary, thyme, bay leaves, cumin, paprika, and turmeric are often used.
The Best Hearty Vegan Stews
The Best Hearty Vegetable Stew
This hearty vegetable stew combines nutritious vegetables, herbs, red wine, and chocolate in one pot to create a rich, comforting, and filling dinner. It is packed with flavor and has an unforgettable aroma that will make your mouth water as soon as it starts to cook!
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Vegan Stew with Dumplings
Our thick and hearty vegan stew with dumplings is the perfect dinner that will satisfy the entire family! Packed with colorful veggies, earthy lentils, and aromatic herbs and topped with flavorful dumplings, this 40-minute recipe is a crowd-pleaser that you will want to make again and again!
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Vegan Chicken and Dumplings
This thick and creamy vegan chicken and dumplings are packed with chewy king oyster mushrooms, nutritious veggies, and natural flavors that will make you crave for seconds before you finish the first bowl! It is also easy to make and ready in 40 minutes, perfect for a filling and satisfying weeknight dinner.
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Jackfruit Stew (Vegan Beef Stew)
This jackfruit stew is a hearty and filling vegan beef stew that is the best way to use canned jackfruit. It is a warm and steamy bowl of this delicious vegan comfort food that is perfect for a cozy night in.
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Portobello Pot Roast
If you are looking for a hearty, filling, and comforting one-pot dinner, take a look at his vegan pot roast. Large portobello mushroom caps and a wide variety of veggies are stewed in a rich and flavorful red wine gravy. It is easy to make and much faster than any classic recipe.
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Ratatouille (French Veggie Stew)
This one-pot ratatouille is how the classic French Provencal stew is cooked. It is ready in 30 minutes, full of colorful veggies, and is naturally vegan.
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Lecsó (Hungarian Pepper Stew)
Lecsó is a simple, tasty, and authentic Hungarian tomato and pepper stew which is like a Hungarian version of the French ratatouille. It is a comfort food that is light, delicious, packed with flavors, and can be ready in 30 minutes.
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Vegan Chickpea Shakshuka
This vegan chickpea shakshuka is a thick, hearty chickpea and tomato-based stew with plant-based eggs that is ready in under 30 minutes. It is a perfect way to enjoy a delicious Middle Eastern breakfast.
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The Best Vegan Chili
This vegan chili is hearty and satisfying, packed with beans and legumes, and a blend of spices that makes it rich, savory, and a burst of flavor in every bite. It is the very best vegan chili you will ever try!
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Vegan White Chili
This vegan white chili is a twist on the traditional recipe, using king oyster mushrooms instead of chicken for a flavor-packed, hearty, and satisfying dish. It is ready in just 30 minutes, is a one-pot meal, and freezes well too.
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Hungarian Vegetarian Goulash
This vegetarian goulash (Hungarian) recipe gives you the chance to enjoy this authentic dish exactly how Hungarians have it but in a completely vegetarian form. It is a family recipe that has been passed down generations and is a real comfort food.
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Vegan Mushroom Stew
This vegan Mushroom Stew is a comforting and robust dish. With hearty chunks of mushrooms, carrots, and potatoes, infused with aromatic herbs, this stew creates a rich and satisfying base.
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Sweet Potato Stew
This Sweet Potato Stew is a hearty and nourishing dish. With a medley of ingredients including sweet potatoes, carrots, kale, and aromatic spices, this stew is brought to life in a rich vegetable broth, finished off with creamy coconut milk and a hint of lime juice. Perfect for a comforting and satisfying meal.
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Split Pea Sweet Potato Stew
This split pea and sweet potato stew is loaded with chunks of sweet potato, carrots, and sweet corn simmered with green split peas, vegetable broth, and a blend of seasonings. It is a comforting companion to a loaf of crusty homemade bread.
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Vegan Irish Stew
This is a delightful vegan rendition of the beloved Irish stew. Large chunks of tender vegetables and textured seitan are immersed in a savory Guinness-infused broth. It faithfully captures the essence of the traditional recipe, all while being effortlessly prepared in a mere thirty minutes.
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Vegan Corned Beef and Cabbage
While “corning” traditionally involves a lengthy brining process, this easy vegan stew recipe brings together all the spices in one pot. Let them simmer, and infuse the jackfruit, potatoes, and cabbage with irresistible aromas. Seitan, tofu, or tempeh can be used as well for those seeking alternatives.
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Vegan Cauliflower Stew
Delight in the flavors of a vegan stew, brimming with cauliflower, broccoli, chickpeas, and kale. The secret lies in the vibrant spices: turmeric, coriander, cumin, sweet paprika, cayenne, and ginger. Tarragon adds a distinctive pungent taste and numerous health benefits.
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Loubia (Moroccon Bean Stew)
This Moroccan Slow Cooker Bean Stew, known as Loubia, features cannellini beans, tomatoes, and an array of aromatic spices. This vegan stew recipe promises to be a heartwarming delight on chilly autumn or winter evenings.
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Tofu Kimchi Stew
This quick-to-make kimchi and tofu stew is packed with the bold flavors of spicy and sour kimchi and chewy tofu. This rich and saucy stew is ready in under 30 minutes. Enjoy this comforting meal by serving it with rice or noodles.
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Vegan Sancocho Root Stew
Vegan Sancocho has an abundance of vegetables like taro, cassava, yam, and plantains, dried mushrooms, and robust flavors. Incorporating yellow split peas creates a thick, yellowish stew while providing protein.
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West African Peanut Stew
Rich and creamy West African stew combines the sweetness of butternut squash, the warmth of spices, and the creaminess of peanut butter to create a satisfying dish for cold winter evenings. Spiced with cumin, coriander, cayenne pepper, and ginger, this hearty stew is reminiscent of Indian curry but with the added indulgence of peanut butter.
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Lebanese Pea Stew
Discover the flavors of Lebanese cuisine with this vegan Lebanese Pea Stew, known as bazella w riz. Traditionally served with rice, this Middle Eastern dish offers a quick and easy way to enjoy a hearty meal. With just one pot, it is easy to create a delicious and nourishing stew that captures the essence of Lebanese flavors.
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Roasted Eggplant Stew with Orzo
This vegan stew is packed with a variety of vegetables, protein-rich lentils, and comforting orzo pasta. Serve it with a crusty bread and some crumbled vegan feta cheese.
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Sweet and Smoky Plantain Stew
This vegan stew effortlessly combines sweetness and savory notes. It is loaded with sweet plantains, smoky bell peppers, kidney beans, and juicy green olives in a coconut-tomato base.
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Taiwanese Cabbage Stew
In this Taiwanese cabbage stew, napa cabbage is combined with earthy shiitake mushrooms, chewy tofu Skin, and crunchy wood ear mushrooms. Vibrant carrots add a pop of contrasting color to the dish. Whether paired with steamed rice or noodles, this stew creates unforgettable dining experiences.
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Indonesian Vegetable Stew with Rice Cakes
In Indonesia, it is called Lontong Sayur Lodeh. This traditional dish combines a rich, coconut milk-infused broth, fragrant spices, and a medley of fresh vegetables. The addition of lontong aka compressed jasmine rice cake, brings a delightful chewiness to every spoonful.
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Shepherd’s Pie with Vegan Stew
This easy vegan shepherd’s pie is a plant-based twist on the traditional comfort food dish. And it is packed with flavor. I am sure it will satisfy all your cravings for a warm, comforting meal. This is the perfect dish for those cozy nights when you want something filling and super delicious yet vegan.
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Vegan Pot Pie with Light Veggie Stew
Ready in an hour, this flavor-packed and aromatic vegan pot pie is a convenient one-pot meal the whole family will love. Loaded with six different vegetables and tender king oyster mushrooms instead of chicken, it is an easy-to-make comfort food that will fill you up without weighing you down!
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French Vegan Cassoulet
Cassoulet is a traditional French dish hailing from the region of Languedoc. It is a slow-cooked casserole-style dish that typically consists of white beans, various meats, and flavorful ingredients like garlic, herbs, and tomatoes. This vegan version skips meat, but adds lots of delicate squash and other veggies.
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FAQs
What is a good substitute for meat in a stew?
The meaty texture can be substituted in various ways. Jackfruit or soy curls for beef chunks, king oyster mushroom for chicken, TVP or tofu crumbles for ground beef.
What are hard vegetables for stew?
Root vegetables like carrots, potatoes, parsnips, and turnips.
How to thicken stew?
I can list at least 20 ways to thicken a stew, from classic flour and starch to pureed vegetables like mashed potatoes.
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