A rich gravy and plenty of hearty vegetables come together for one delicious and comforting veggie stew recipe. Serve this vegan stew with a big hunk of bread for mopping up every last bit of sauce!
Hi friends!
Since St. Patrick’s day is just around the corner, stew and shepherd’s pie is a must, don’t you think?
This veggie stew is chock-full of hearty veggies and is super thick, just like ya want a stew to be!
If you’re heading inside after being out in the cold, this will warm ya right to your toes (and fill ya up).
Serve this vegan stew with a thick slice of homemade bread and you won’t be disappointed.
How To Make Vegetable Stew
Full details on how to make this vegan Irish stew are in the recipe card below, but here are the basics:
- Heat some olive oil in a large pot and cook onion and garlic.
- Add mushrooms and cook.
- Stir in tomato paste.
- Add carrots, parsnips, celery, potato, rutabaga, salt, pepper, and herbs. Pour in broth, cover (with lid slightly ajar) and cook. Once done, remove and discard bay leaves.
- Stir in peas and balsamic vinegar.
- Add cornstarch slurry to thicken, along with a little more broth. Now it’s read to serve and enjoy!
How To Thicken Stew
A cornstarch slurry was added at the end of cook time to thicken.
You can omit if you wish.
Alternatively, if you don’t need this stew to be gluten free or vegan, feel free to add a flour roux.
To do this, add about 2 tablespoons of butter to a pan, melt, and stir in an equal amount of flour. Whisk to form a paste and cook for 3 to 4 minutes. Stir into stew.
What To Serve With Stew
Enjoy this hearty veggie stew with any of these:
- Homemade bread (a must, in my opinion)
- Celeriac puree
- Mashed parsnips
- Roasted garlic mashed potatoes
- Creamy polenta
Tips and Variations
- Don’t fret if you have the exact quantities of vegetables listed. If you have less of one vegetable and more of another, just go with what you have! It’ll still taste delicious!
- Cook time could vary, depending on the thickness of your veggies and how much of a simmer you have. Just cook until the veggies are tender. If you need a little more broth to loosen, simply add more. Conversely, if you need to thicken things, add a cornstarch slurry.
- Baby bella (cremini) mushrooms are used, but you can use white button if you prefer.
- Baby potatoes are used and cut into chunks. You can use regular potatoes instead, if that’s what you prefer or have on hand.
More Comfort Food Recipes
If you make this veggie stew recipe, be sure to leave a comment below!
Vegan Stew (Lots of Veggies!)
Ingredients
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 1 yellow onion, peeled and diced
- 3 cloves garlic, minced
- 8 ounces baby bella (cremini) mushrooms, sliced, about 227 grams (or white button mushrooms)
- 3 tablespoons tomato paste
- 2 large carrots, peeled and sliced into roughly ¼-inch to ½-inch chunks (about 2 to 2.5 cups)
- 2 parsnips, peeled and sliced into roughly ¼-inch to ½-inch chunks (about 1.5 cups)
- 2 ribs celery, sliced into ¼-inch or so chunks (about 1. 5 cups)
- ¾ pound baby potatoes, cut into bite-sized chunks (about 3 cups)
- ½ small rutabaga, peeled and cut into roughly ¼-inch to ½-inch chunks (about 2 cups)
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
- 1 teaspoon dried thyme
- 1 teaspoon dried rosemary
- 2 bay leaves
- 5 to 6 cups low sodium vegetable broth, depending on the consistency you want
- 1 cup frozen peas
- 1 tablespoon balsamic vinegar
- 1 to 2 tablespoons cornstarch
- 1 to 2 tablespoons cold water
- Freshly chopped thyme, rosemary or parsley, garnish to taste (optional)
Instructions
- Heat olive oil in a large heavy-bottomed pot over medium heat. (I used an enameled cast-iron Dutch oven.)
- Add onions and garlic. Cook, stirring often, until onion has softened, about 3 to 5 minutes.
- Add mushrooms and cook for 5 minutes.
- Stir in tomato paste and cook for 2 to 3 minutes.
- Add carrots, parsnip, celery, potato, rutabaga, salt, black pepper, thyme rosemary, and bay leaves. Stir to combine.
- Pour in vegetable broth (I add 5 cups of broth to start). Bring to a boil, then reduce the heat (about medium-low heat) to a simmer. Cover with lid slightly ajar and cook for 35 to 45 minutes (stirring periodically) or until veggies are tender. Remove bay leaves and discard.
- Stir in frozen peas and balsamic vinegar.
- In a small bowl, mix cornstarch with an equal amount of cold water, pour into stew, stirring through, and cook for 1 to 2 minutes until thickened. Add another ½ cup to 1 cup of vegetable broth and heat through if you want a looser (thinner) consistency. Note: I like to start with 1 tablespoon of cornstarch and 1 tablespoon of water and see how I like the thickness before adding more. Alternatively, you can skip this of you like.
- To serve, divide the stew into bowls and garnish (if desired) with fresh herbs. Enjoy!
Notes
A note on times provided: appliances vary, any prep and/or cook times provided are estimates only.
Tried this recipe?
If you do make this recipe, thank you!! It would mean so much if you could leave a comment below. Love to know how you enjoyed it, and it helps other readers too!
Louise
Made your stew for the 3rd time in 2 weeks, that’s how much we love it. Thanks for this delicious recipe.
Dawn - Girl Heart Food
So happy to hear that, Louise! Thanks so very much 🙂
Valentina
My 14-year-old has just decided he’s going to try being a Vegetarian. 🙂 Not exactly sure his reasons, but I support him, and he’ll LOVE this stew! I just love how rich and hearty it is. Delicious with garlic bread, I bet! 🙂 ~Valentina
Dawn - Girl Heart Food
Thank you Valentina. I sure hope you guys do! Garlic bread is a great idea!
Haylie / Our Balanced Bowl
Dawn, this stew….YUM!!!!! It looks so insanely hearty, full of all of those veggies…this would be perfect for a cold chilly night or especially for St Pattys Day with a big cold pint of beer 🙂 Oh, and some fresh bread. Yup, sounds perfect to me!
Dawn - Girl Heart Food
Totally! Thanks Haylie 🙂
Heidi
Oh my, what a yummy, hearty, flavor packed stew. I love how you used both baby potatoes and rutabaga. Thank you so much for sharing!
Dawn - Girl Heart Food
Thank you Heidi! It’s nice and hearty, that’s for sure 🙂
Marissa
What a wonderful idea to make a vegan version of Irish stew! With all of these flavors and that thick, rich texture, I’m sure that you’d never miss the meat!
Dawn - Girl Heart Food
Thank you Marissa!!
Mary Ann | The Beach House Kitchen
I cannot believe St. Patrick’s Day is just around the corner Dawn! Where has the time gone?! My husband Tom would be all over the stew. He’s a meat and potatoes man! Pinned and excited to try!
Dawn - Girl Heart Food
I know, right?? Thanks Mary Ann!
Leanne
This looks so amazingly thick and hearty! We love celebrating Paddy’s Day with lots of pub and Irish inspired food, so I should add this one to the list to make. Loving that it’s vegan! It looks so filling I doubt anyone would miss the meat!
Dawn - Girl Heart Food
Thanks Leanne! It’s perfect for St. Patrick’s Day 🙂
[email protected]
So hearty and delicious! Pass me a brimming bowl with a big hunk of bread, please!! Wishing you a great week, my friend! xoxo
Dawn - Girl Heart Food
You got it, my friend! Thanks so much! You too! XOXO
Kathy @ Beyond the Chicken Coop
I knew that vegetable stock was going into something delicious! This stew looks amazing and so full of good for you ingredients. Perfect for these cold winter days!
Dawn - Girl Heart Food
Thank you Kathy! It’ll warm ya right up 😉
Jennifer @ Seasons and Suppers
Such a great twist on a classic! I find mushrooms just as hearty as meat in stews like this and they add such great flavour, too ) Perfect for St. Pat’s.
Dawn - Girl Heart Food
Thank you Jennifer! I LOVE mushrooms!
David @ Spiced
This stew sounds awesome, Dawn! I’m all about the belly-warming soups and stews lately, too. We’ve been mixing it up with a different one each week for lunches, and I’m thinking this one needs a spot on the list. We’ve still got quite a few cold weeks left, and this one just makes me feel all warm and fuzzy inside! 🙂
Dawn - Girl Heart Food
Happy to hear that! Thanks David 🙂
Katherine | Love In My Oven
Looks so great, Dawn! I’m always looking for vegetarian recipes to try out with my family, and this one is going on the menu! My kids love big chunks of veggies like that! Super flavorful!! Pinning! Hope you had a great weekend! XO
Dawn - Girl Heart Food
Yay! Thanks Katherine! Hope you love it!
Kelsie | the itsy-bitsy kitchen
This looks delicious, Dawn! This would be perfect for St. Patrick’s Day and I can’t wait to try it! Hope you have a great week, my friend!
Dawn - Girl Heart Food
Totally! Thanks Kelsie!
Alexandra @ It's Not Complicated Recipes
This looks so hearty, my friend! Definitely not missing anything by it being vegan – it looks full of flavour and so nourishing!
Dawn - Girl Heart Food
Thank you Alexandra!! We love it!