Do you remember the type of cooking that came from your mom’s kitchen? Saucy, rich, warm, and full of goodness? Switching to a vegan diet does not mean you lose out on all those delicious dishes. Vegan meals can be every bit as nourishing as your mother’s cooking was, and preparing a vegan stew is often quicker, easier, and healthier than meaty alternatives.

A rich and hearty vegan stew is just what the doctor orders after a hard day’s work. When you are living a healthy lifestyle and exercising frequently, you crave a satisfying dinner that will get you ready for a good night’s rest. This is when a great vegan stew hits the spot.

Five Hearty Vegan Stew Recipes

At Knorr we care about good health and have put together the best plant-based recipes we could find for hearty vegan stews. Here are our best vegan stew recipes:

1. Crispy Tofu with Spring Onions, Mung Beans and Bambara Groundnuts
2. Vegan Spanish Chickpea and Sweet Potato Stew
3. Barley Risotto with Mushrooms, Peas and Vegan Cheese
4. One Pan Pumpkin Leaf Sishebo
5. Vegan Mushroom and Lentil Bolognaise with Baby Marrow Noodles

1. Crispy Tofu, Spring Onions, Mung Beans and Bambara Groundnuts

There is no time like the present to get creative in your kitchen and attempt a vegan stew recipe you have never tried before. For an Asian dish with interesting ingredients this recipe is just the thing to make: Crispy Tofu with Spring Onions, Mung Beans and Bambara Groundnuts. This non-traditional meat-free stew brings with it a little African influence as it incorporates Chakalaka Soup which gives it a slight sting in the tail. Delicious served with bread to dip in the sauce!

2. Vegan Spanish Chickpea and Sweet Potato Stew

If a bit of sweetness in a gentle salty sauce is what you crave, you can’t go wrong with this delicious Vegan Spanish Chickpea and Sweet Potato Stew. It is the answer to your easy vegan stew wishes. Almonds, maple syrup and ground cumin are the key ingredients that make this stew perfectly balanced, slightly sweet and a little spicy. A perfect recipe to impress the younger members of the family. Yum!

3. Barley Risotto with Mushrooms, Peas and Vegan Cheese

If you want your tastebuds to dance in delight, you simply must try this next vegan stew recipe. Pearl barley is an ingredient that is often overlooked and yet it is delicious, low GI and a healthier alternative to other starchy foods such as white rice or mash potatoes.

Barley Risotto with Mushrooms, Peas and Vegan Cheese has a savoury taste and a creamy texture. The squeeze of lemon before serving does wonders to finish the dish on a high note and the white vegan cheese adds a luxurious layer to the meal.

4. One Pan Pumpkin Leaf Sishebo

For a vegan stew with a flavoursome coconut spin, try this recipe: One Pan Pumpkin Leaf Sishebo. This vegan stew recipe has a unique and delicious taste profile and is packed full of nutrients.

Pumpkin leaves, also known as mekopu, are grown locally and have incredible nutritional value as well as numerous health benefits. This super ingredient is said to help fight against cancer, increase fertility, lower cholesterol, combat diabetes and more.

5. Vegan Mushroom and Lentil Bolognaise with Baby Marrow Noodles

If you and your tastebuds want to sit down to a saucy feast, this recipe for Vegan Mushroom and Lentil Bolognaise with Baby Marrow Noodles is for you. With no less than three different vegetables in the mix, this vegan stew takes you over halfway to your 5-a-day.

The tomatoey broth smothers the lentils and brings a savoury, protein-rich taste to the dish. Dieticians now recommend eating two to three helpings of legumes a week, and this recipe ticks the box with its yummy helping of lentils.

Top Tip: To thicken a watery sauce, mix two tablespoons of corn flour with a splash of water to form a paste. Then mix this paste into your simmering stew and watch the sauce magically thicken!

There you have it! Vegan stews don’t have to be bland, boring or become overly complicated. Fresh ingredients, easy recipes and quick cooking veggies are all you need to create hearty, meat-free meals for your family.

Hungry for more? Check out these veggie stew ideas or try one of these vegan recipes on the What’s For Dinner website.