Serious Hearty Vegetable Stew
A deeply comforting stew with root vegetables, legumes, and aromatic herbs, perfect for serious nourishment. This french-inspired mexican (vegetarian) ready in about 75 minutes pairs carrots, celery, potatoes for a weeknight-friendly dinner that comes together with one pan and minimal cleanup. Each serving lands at about 220 calories and feeds 6, so it slots cleanly into a weekly meal plan and pairs well with a quick salad or grain on the side. Tap "Plan a meal with the AI" below to drop this recipe into your week and send the ingredients straight to Instacart. Nutrition values are approximate, calculated from USDA FoodData Central (fdc.nal.usda.gov) — verify against ingredient labels for any health-driven dietary plan.
Ingredients
- 4 cups diced carrots
- 2 cups diced celery
- 3 cups diced potatoes
- 1 cup dried lentils
- 2 tbsp tomato paste
- 1/2 cup red wine
- 3 tbsp olive oil
- 3 cloves minced garlic
- 1 tbsp thyme
- 2 bay leaves
- 1.5 tsp salt
- 1 tsp pepper
Equipment for this recipe
Top-rated tools to make this recipe successfully.
Instructions
- Step 1: Heat olive oil in a large pot over medium heat. Add garlic, carrots, celery, and potatoes. Sauté 8-10 minutes until softened.
- Step 2: Stir in tomato paste, red wine, lentils, thyme, bay leaves, salt, and pepper. Add 6 cups water. Bring to a boil, then reduce heat to low. Simmer 45-60 minutes until vegetables are tender and lentils are fully cooked.
- Step 3: Adjust seasoning and serve hot, garnished with fresh thyme if desired.
Frequently asked questions
How long does Serious Hearty Vegetable Stew take to make?
Total time is about 75 minutes (15 min prep + 60 min cook). Most home cooks find this fits comfortably into a weeknight; double the batch on Sunday for two dinners.
How do I store leftover Serious Hearty Vegetable Stew?
Cool to room temperature within 2 hours, then store in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 4 days. Reheat covered in a 350°F oven for 10-12 minutes, or microwave at 70% power in 60-second bursts to keep carrots from drying out.
Can I substitute ingredients in Serious Hearty Vegetable Stew?
Yes — most ingredients in this recipe have flexible swaps. For oil, use any neutral high-smoke-point oil (avocado, grapeseed, refined coconut). For aromatics, dried herbs at ⅓ the volume of fresh work in a pinch. The full ingredient list is shoppable on Instacart so you can see substitutes in real time.
How do I scale Serious Hearty Vegetable Stew for a different number of people?
The recipe is written for 6 servings. Multiply each ingredient by (your serving target / 6). Cook time stays roughly the same up to 2x; for 3-4x batches, switch from a skillet to a sheet pan or stockpot so the food isn't crowded — overcrowding steams instead of browns.
Is Serious Hearty Vegetable Stew vegetarian?
Yes — this recipe is tagged vegetarian based on its ingredient list. Always cross-check labels for packaged ingredients (sauces, broths, condiments) since formulations vary by brand.
What others are saying
- ★★★★★
My partner, who's usually picky, absolutely loved this.
- ★★★★☆
Solid recipe. Not groundbreaking but definitely making it again.
- ★★★★☆
Really good but took about 10 minutes longer than stated.
