Do you like 'a hearty stew'?

It's ages since I either made or ate a 'hearty stew' as I prefer lighter fare these days. I don't do heavy physical work, so I don't think I require that heavy hit of calories.

My mother was the queen of hearty stews and broths which the family loved. My sister now says she hated them but she used to gobble them up so I guess ‘recollections may vary’! Mum made a variety of stews but the most delicious was a mutton (if she could get it!) or lamb stew. Took a couple of days as the meat was cooked first, the fat skimmed off the cold cooking liquid and the meat cut up (she used cheap neck of lamb/mutton). Then a variety of veg, pearl barley and red lentils (none of those fancy black Puy ones!). Unbelievably tasty! I have tried to replicate it and others but don’t make them half so good. As there’s just me now, I don’t bother, but my daughter makes a good stew so I still get my fix. Still miss Mum’s stew though!

I love a hearty stew

I always loved stew-type meals until I started my keto diet several years ago. So now I don’t eat root vegetables, or carbs of any sort. I eat mainly meat (including the fat) and my health has never been better. So now I look at a hearty stew with fond memories but no regrets. Xxx.

I loved my mum’s heart stews. (With dumplings). I don’t know what I do wrong, but I can’t reproduce the smell or taste. I think she used more root vegetables than I do.

The aforementioned estofado - not a traditional hearty stew as we know it, but very tasty

I love a chunky stew, casserole, shepherds pie or cottage pie, but only in the colder months. I usually cook two large ones and freeze one.

Made one the other day, beef stew and dumplings in the slow cooker, leftovers turned into a curry next day .. two easy but delicious meals ..

love stews and casseroles but OH not keen - we have so much fish its a wonder we don't grow fins!

Love preparing and cooking a hearty stew on a ‘snow day’ in the depth of winter because there’s something special about the whole process ……bundling up and traipsing through the snow lined streets in the morning to our local supermarket (because the car is covered in snow and the roads still need ploughing), buying all the ingredients…especially loads of veggies and getting home again and preparing everything that’s going into the slow cooker. I love this type of ‘ritual’ ….love this whole process and knowing that at the end of the day we’ll be sitting down to a dinner that is delicious and full of goodness and warmth!

I made one yesterday in the slow cooker . Braising steak, carrots, onion, swede,potatoes, celery, thyme, red wine, garlic, tomato purée, bay leaves, Worcester sauce and dumplings on top. I’m starting to fill up the freezer for winter

Part of my staple winter food, and I've just had the first one. I make it in my pressure cooker with a variety of vegetables and herbs and sometimes chicken. Cooked in 15 minutes. On my own, eat one day, even better the next, with rice or pasta the next and freeze one portion.

I’ve got one together in my slow cooker now as Himself is driving back from Scotland and traffic will determine his arrival. I like the quiet, slow cook for hours. I’ve put in diced pork, an onion, a tin of chopped tomatoes, some fresh mushrooms, Worcestershire sauce, dried sage and salt. It’ll need thickening a bit about 6pm. When he arrives I’ll ping a bag of mushroom & brown rice in the microwave for 2 mins. Easio!

Brassiere Zeidel is fantastic and I second the vote for their coq au vin. Delias a bit of the Irish with dumplings is my favourite Hearty Stew, it has barley too and no browning all that meat in a fry pan, just toss all the meat and veg in flour! I add a lamb stock cube which adds a lovely depth of flavour.

I blame Gransnet!
Your estofado looks nice Riverwalk. I like lentils.

I am making a pumpkin stew today saw the recipe in my Good Housekeeping that arrived this week Have only got a butternut squash in cupboard and they say can use that instead so Looking forward to a Vegetable Diner feast tonight Fish and Chips tomorrow it’s Friday so meals for next two days sorted

When I was a girl Mum used to let my sister and I choose what we had for dinner on our birthdays. I always chose beef stew and dumplings, followed by chocolate sponge with chocolate custard.
DH and I both love a hearty stew, now done in the slow cooker, but it is still a special treat. My DH calls dumplings 'doughboys'.

ooh yeah..As long as it's veggie !!

Callistemon21

Oh!

Frozen Tesco Shallots Peeled 350G!!

Oh thank you for that tip. It’s the peeling that finishes me. I always leave them whole so not bothered about them being too soft to slice.

MrsKen33

Absolute favourite is Welsh lamb stew…Cawl. My gran , aunties and mother made it. Must be lambs’ neck though.

I always thought Cawl was that lacy piece of fat that faggots are wrapped in.

My father used to make jars of pickled onions ready for Christmas, HannahLoisLuke

He'd sit and peel piles of shallots and not 'cry' at all, Mum and I would be the next room, eyes streaming ?

Lacey fat??

Local farm supplies venison and I used a BBC good food recipe with a lot of wine in it. Much easier and also very tasty is Costco ready made beef stew and dumplings. Only appears in the chiller in autumn/winter.

Because I am not allowed to use frying pan or boil anything because of my disabilities I have a lot of stews cooked in the slow cooker. I use a lot of frozen onions, mixed vegetables in them also pearl barley or lentils.
I have memories of my mothers rabbit and cow heel stew.

Brassiere Zedel, my all time fave restaurant, their fish stew is unbelievably good, can never get mine as good, french onion soup, magnificent! Just wish it were nearer!