bean and vegetable stew with cheddar cheese dumplings

Bean and Vegetable Stew with Cheese Dumplings Recipe

45 Minutes
Serves: 2

A simple bean and vegetable stew and dumplings, made with cauliflower, green beans, courgettes, tomatoes, peas and cannellini beans flavoured with french herbs and topped with cheddar cheese dumplings. Serve the veggie stew with crispy jacket potatoes

Recipe Ingreds

bean vegetable Stew

  • black pepper (to taste)
  • 1 tin tinned cannellini beans
  • 0.5 head cauliflower
  • 2 cloves garlic
  • 1 whole courgette
  • 1 tsp herb de provence
  • 55 grams green beans
  • 1 tbsp olive oil
  • 1 whole onions
  • 75 grams frozen peas
  • salt (to taste)
  • 0.5 cube stock cube veg
  • 1 tin tinned tomatoes
  • 500 ml water (boiling)
  • 1 tsp yeast extract

Dumplings

  • 55 grams butter
  • 25 grams cheddar cheese
  • 25 grams whole oats
  • 70 grams self raising flour

Potatoes

  • 2 whole baking potatoes
  • 10 grams butter

Recipe with pictures Steps

Step 1 - How to make bean and vegetable stew

  • chop the courgettes into chip shapes
  • wash the vegetables
  • cut the cauliflower into florets
  • trim the green beans

Step 2

  • peel and chop the onion(s) finely
  • heat the frying pan with a little oil and add the onions
  • cook for 5 minutes

Step 3

  • peel and crush the garlic using the garlic crusher or chop finely add to the onions
  • add the cauliflower
  • cook for 5 minutes

Step 4

  • add the courgettes to the onion mix
  • cook for 3 to 4 mins
  • add the herb de provence and the green beans to the onion and courgette mix
  • cook for 2 minutes

Step 5

  • Drain and rinse the cannellini beans
  • Add the beans and peas to the vegetable stew mix
  • cook for 2 minutes

Step 6

  • set the oven to 190C 375F or gas mark 5
  • add the stock cube to boiling water
  • add the tinned tomatoes and stock to the bean and veg stew

Step 7

  • add the yeast extract to the frying pan
  • season with salt and pepper
  • add the contents of the frying pan to the casserole dish
  • place in the oven
  • cook for 10 mins

Step 8 - How to make Jacket potatoes

  • wash the potatoes
  • cook in the microwave for 4 mins
  • place in the oven with the stew

Step 9 - How to make cheese dumplings

  • grate the cheese
  • rub the butter into the flour till it forms breadcrumbs and then mix in the grated cheese
  • take a tablespoon of mixture and shape into dumplings
  • coat in the rolled oats
  • remove the stew from the oven
  • add the dumplings to the stew

Step 10

  • place in the oven
  • cook for 10 mins to 15 mins

Step 11

  • remove the stew and jacket potatoes from the oven
  • place the stew on the plate with 2 dumplings

Step 12

  • cut a cross on the top of the jacket and squeeze the potato to open it up
  • add some butter
  • add the jacket potato to the serving dish

step 13

  • if cooking extra for the freezer store the extra stew in a freezable container allow to cool and then place in freezer

Recipe Utensils

  • 1 bowl
  • 1 casserole dish
  • 1 chopping board
  • 1 Garlic crusher
  • 1 grater
  • 1 jug
  • 1 large frying pan
  • 1 large knife
  • 1 sieve

How to make vegetable stew with cheddar dumplings

A delicious vegetable casserole full of fresh vegetables and beans topped with tasty cheesy dumplings 

Vegetarian stew

Lightly fry the chopped onions, till soft, add the crushed garlic, add the cauliflower florets and cook for five minutes. Add the sliced courgettes and cook for 4 minutes, add the herbs, beans, and frozen peas cook for five minutes. Add the stock, tinned tomatoes, and yeast extract  season with salt and pepper. Place in a casserole dish and cook for 10 minutes

Cheese dumpling for stew

These scone like dumplings are perfect to top a veggie stew, rub the butter into the flour till it forms fine breadcrumbs add the grated cheese. Mould into dumpling shapes roll in oats and add to the stew and cook for fifteen minutes

Bean and vegetable stew variations

  • try this recipe with other tinned beans, stick to white beans like haricot beans
  • try with lentils if you don't have any beans
  • try adding some herbs to the dumplings, thyme or parsley would be nice

Can you freeze?

Yes, this vegetable stew is ideal for freezing, cook and leave to cool in a freezer container, make the dumpling, and place on top and freeze.

What makes our veg stew and dumplings the best

This mouth-watering vegetable hotpot is the perfect marriage of crunchy veggies and savoury tomato gravy, but what makes this meal extra special is the delicious scone like cheese dumplings which go perfectly with the dish

When to make this vegetable stew with cheese dumplings

This is a warm and hearty vegetable casserole making an ideal autumn, winter comfort food, but unlike most comfort food it's actually good for you, it is packed full of fresh vegetables perfect for your five a day. It can be served on its own for dinner, as the delicious dumplings provide the perfect meal in one. If you are on a major health kick omit the dumplings and have it with a jacket potato

Who will like this recipe?

This vegetable and bean stew is perfect for the whole family, it is cheap to cook so ideal if you are on a tight budget, it is a great dish for vegetarians. If you omit the dumplings, it is also suitable for vegans and very healthy too!

Flavour profile 

This stew is full of umami flavours from the beans and yeast extract, with the herbs give it a lovely fresh flavour. 

What goes well with vegetable and bean stew

We serve this dish with jacket potatoes, but it is really a meal in one with the delicious cheddar dumplings. If you want some different dinner ideas, then add different toppings or sides to the stew

  • Serve with mashed potatoes or potato cakes
  • Serve with crusty bread or cornbread.
  • You can turn this stew into a hotpot by adding a layer of sliced potatoes on the top instead of the dumplings

About the ingredients for our bean and veggie stew

Cannellini beans 

Cannellini beans are a white bean from Italy, they have a delicious fluffy texture and a light nutty taste. They can be bought dry or in tins, we use the tinned beans for this recipe as they are quicker and easier to prepare than dried. 

Vegetables 

We have chosen cauliflower, green beans, courgettes and peas, but this is a great fridge clearing veggie stew so if you want to alter the vegetable combination feel free. If you use root vegetables you may want to precook a little before you add to the stew, pick vegetables that will hold there shape. 

Tomatoes 

Tomatoes form the base of the gravy for this delicious stew extra flavour is added with veggie stock, onions, garlic, and a selection of french herbs 

Cheddar Cheese 

The cheese is added to the stew in the form of dumplings, the dumplings are savoury scone like dumplings similar to those you find in a cobbler. We have chosen to flavour them with cheddar cheese but you can change this cheese for another strong flavoured cheese 

Frequently as questions

QuestionsAnswers

What vegetables are good in a stew? 

  • Root vegetables and winter squashes make excellent stews as they add flavour
  • Cauliflower, courgettes, and potatoes as they take on the flavour of the gravy beautifully
  • Mushrooms as they add a delicious umami flavour 
  • Aubergines as they add texture
  • Fennel but use sparingly as it has a very strong taste, and need to be matched carefully with other vegetables
  • Tomatoes as they add real flavour to the gravy

How do you thicken stew? 

Adding starchy root vegetables to your stew and these will naturally thicken the stew, you can add a little flour or corn flour but we prefer not to unless absolutely necessary. You add the flour by mixing with a enough water to make a very lose paste, dissolve in the water thoroughly and then add to the stew, and stir till it thickens

Other vegetarian stew recipes

Jerk Sweet Potato & Black Bean Stew with Rice & Peas

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