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 diced carrots, diced celery, diced 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
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.
Equipment for this recipe
Top-rated tools to make this recipe successfully.
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 diced 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.
