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    Home » Recipes » Vegetarian Dinner Recipes

    Nov 7, 2016 · Modified: Feb 8, 2020 by Becca Heyes · This post may contain affiliate links · 29 Comments

    Vegetarian 'beef' stew with easy suet dumplings

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    Total time: 1 hour 45 minutes
    Servings: 4
    5 from 4 votes
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    Vegetarian 'beef' stew in a rich gravy, topped with easy suet dumplings - an old recipe from an authentic British mum! Such a brilliant winter warmer.
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    I don't often get too serious on this blog - but sometimes, something serious comes along that I really feel compelled to write about. This is one of those times!

    The charity ShelterBox recently asked if I would join in with their new campaign 'Shine For ShelterBox', and I was more than happy to get involved. ShelterBox are a fantastic charity who provide aid to families in some of the world’s hardest-to-reach places and most devastated natural disaster zones. There are now 60 million people in the world who have been forced from their homes due to natural disasters and conflict - the highest number since WW2. In the past couple of months, amongst other places, ShelterBox have been providing aid boxes to people in Haiti, following Hurricane Matthew, and in Italy, following the series of recent earthquakes. ShelterBox provide family-sized tents to the people who really need them, as well as cooking sets, solar lights, water purification equipment, thermal blankets, and more.

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    The 'Shine for ShelterBox' campaign encourages people to hold candlelit meals with their friends and family, in order to raise money to brighten lives around the world. I think it's a brilliant idea - I'm sure most of us would welcome any opportunity to feast with friends, and knowing that you're helping to bring a little bit of light to someone else's life, both metaphorically and literally, is a great reason to get involved.

    If you're interested in getting involved, you can request your free Shine for ShelterBox kit here, which contains everything you'll need to host your own candlelit feast. Or, if you'd prefer for someone else to do the cooking for you, there are several fundraising pop-up events happening all over the country. And of course, you can also donate directly.

    Vegetarian 'beef' stew in a rich gravy, topped with easy suet dumplings - an old recipe from an authentic British mum! Such a brilliant winter warmer.

    When I was planning my own Shine for ShelterBox feast, my mind immediately went to comfort food - something hearty and warming, which can be easily shared with friends. My mum's beef stew is perfect. Of course, ever since I went vegetarian about 18 years ago, she's been making a vegetarian 'beef' stew instead - sometimes with vegetarian mince, and sometimes with vegetarian beef-style pieces. This time I went for chunky pieces, but either way works well.

    Vegetarian 'beef' stew in a rich gravy, topped with easy suet dumplings - an old recipe from an authentic British mum! Such a brilliant winter warmer.

    Two things make this vegetarian 'beef' stew amazing - firstly, the gravy. I know it's not exactly cooking from scratch, but you need to use Bisto gravy granules (this is an authentic recipe from a British mum, haha). If you can't buy them where you live, you can get them online*. Just look at the reviews! You really can't beat them. This is the stuff I was brought up on.

    The second most amazing thing about this stew is the dumplings, made with vegetable suet*. They're so easy to make - literally three ingredients (plus a bit of seasoning), one bowl, and about one minute. And they're soooo good. I imagine they might not be everyone's cup of tea, but if you like a good bit of stodge (which I really, really do), they're the perfect accompaniment to the rich 'beef' stew.

    Other than that, you can make this stew your own - use whatever veggies you like. My only warning is to use veggies that get better the longer they cook. I wouldn't use broccoli, for example - overcooked broccoli is nobody's friend. Parsnip, sweet potato and leeks all work really well.

    Vegetarian 'beef' stew in a rich gravy, topped with easy suet dumplings - an old recipe from an authentic British mum! Such a brilliant winter warmer.

    If you're inspired to hold your own Shine for ShelterBox candlelit dinner, don't forget to request your free kit here, and get feasting!

    Vegetarian 'beef' stew in a rich gravy, topped with easy suet dumplings - an old recipe from an authentic British mum! Such a brilliant winter warmer.

    Vegetarian 'beef' stew with easy suet dumplings

    If you've cooked this recipe, don't forget to leave a star rating!

    5 from 4 votes
    Print Pin Comment
    Prep Time: 25 minutes
    Cook Time: 1 hour 20 minutes
    Total Time: 1 hour 45 minutes
    Servings: 4
    Calories:
    Author: Becca Heyes

    Ingredients

    For the vegetarian 'beef' stew:

    • 1 tablespoon oil
    • 1 onion, diced
    • 300 g vegetarian beef-style pieces or vegetarian mince (~ 2 ½ cups)
    • 2 cloves garlic, minced
    • 2 carrots, sliced
    • 6 medium mushrooms, diced
    • 125 g green beans, trimmed and cut into thirds (~ 1 cup)
    • 3 potatoes, cut into chunks
    • 260 g tinned sweetcorn kernels (~ 1 ½ cups)
    • 1 litre water (~ 4 cups)
    • 1 vegetable stock cube, crumbled
    • 4 tablespoon gravy granules (I highly recommend Bisto)
    • 1 tablespoon tomato ketchup

    For the suet dumplings:

    • 100 g vegetable suet (~ ½ cup)
    • 200 g self-raising flour (~ 1 ¼ cups)
    • ½ teaspoon dried oregano
    • Salt
    • Black pepper
    • 150 ml water (~ ½ cup)

    Instructions

    • Preheat the oven to 190°C (Gas Mark 5 / 375°F).
    • Heat the oil in a large casserole dish or very large oven-proof saucepan, and add the onion and beef-style pieces. Cook for a few minutes over a medium heat, until the onion has softened slightly. Then add all of the remaining stew ingredients (not the dumpling ingredients), and mix well. The liquid should reach to about the same level as the vegetables - add an extra dash of water if needed.
    • Cover the pan, and place in the oven. Cook for around an hour, stirring once halfway, until the vegetables are all cooked.
    • To make the dumplings, combine the vegetable suet and self-raising flour in a bowl, along with the dried oregano and plenty of salt and pepper.. Add enough water to bring the mixture together into a wet dough - about 150ml is probably about right, but you might need a little more or a little less. The mixture should be fairly wet and sticky.
    • Dollop the dumpling mixture on top of the stew - I made around 10 dumplings in total, but you can make them larger if you like. Return the pan to the oven for a further 15-20 minutes. Cook uncovered for a crispy dumpling, or leave the lid on for a softer dumpling. The dumplings are cooked when they are firm and a knife comes out clean.
    • Remove the dumplings from the stew, and stir thoroughly. If the stew looks a little thin, add another couple of spoonfuls of gravy granules, and stir well. Repeat until the stew reaches your desired consistency, and serve hot.

    Nutritional information is approximate, and will depend on your exact ingredients. Please calculate your own nutritional values if you require accuracy for health reasons.

    Tried this Recipe? Pin it for Later!Mention @EasyCheesyVeg or tag #EasyCheesyVegetarian!
    vegetarian-beef-stew-ni

    Note: Nutritional information is approximate, and will depend on exactly what ingredients you choose.

    Here's another old family recipe that's a real winter warmer: vegetable cobbler!

    Vegetable cobbler

    * This is a sponsored post, but since ShelterBox are such a fantastic charity, I wrote this post for nearly half of my usual fee. I will also be donating a portion of the fee straight back into the Shine for ShelterBox campaign.

    * This post contains two affiliate links. If you click these links and make a purchase, I will receive a tiny, tiny payment, at no extra cost to you. Thanks for the support!

    More Vegetarian Dinner Recipes

    • Slow Cooker Mushroom Stroganoff
    • Vegetarian Chilli Mac (One Pot!)
    • 30 Super Quick Vegetarian Dinners (20 minutes or less!)
    • 60 Vegetarian Winter Warmers
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    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. Rona Kirwan says

      October 05, 2021 at 1:30 pm

      Hi
      This looks great. Do you think it could be made with the chicken style pieces rather than beef?

      Reply
      • Becca @ Easy Cheesy Vegetarian says

        October 18, 2021 at 9:38 am

        Absolutely :)

        Reply
    2. Debbie says

      January 18, 2021 at 10:30 pm

      Hi! Making this tonight and am so excited! It looks yummy and I can’t wait to try it. Have you tried freezing the leftovers for another meal? I’m not sure how it would be...

      Reply
      • Becca @ Easy Cheesy Vegetarian says

        January 19, 2021 at 8:36 am

        I haven't but I'm fairly sure it would be fine! Stews usually freeze really well :)

        Reply
    3. Emma Appleyard says

      August 05, 2020 at 9:29 pm

      Absolutely amazing recipe! I have been searching for a vegetarian stew for ages, and this one was perfect. 5 star reviews from the whole family, including the two meat eaters! The gravy was delicious, full of flavour, and I managed to get 12, scrummy dumplings!

      Another thing I loved was that there were no obscure ingredients I needed to find. This whole recipe could be found in my kitchen! And it wasn't super hard to do (which was a bonus, as I have never made stew before).

      This has immediately become a firm favourite in my home, and I can't wait to cook it again!5 stars

      Reply
      • Becca @ Easy Cheesy Vegetarian says

        August 13, 2020 at 9:50 am

        Aw what a lovely comment, thanks so much Emma! Really glad you enjoyed it :) I don't do weird ingredients, so hopefully you'll find lots more you enjoy on the site!

        Reply
    4. Ellie says

      September 09, 2018 at 12:27 pm

      Thankyou for this recipe- I replaced the meat with butter beans. I think the corn and mushrooms added awesome flavour too. Will be making this a staple ;)5 stars

      Reply
      • Becca @ Amuse Your Bouche says

        September 10, 2018 at 3:25 pm

        Awesome, thanks Ellie!

        Reply
    5. Jacqueline Meldrum says

      December 03, 2016 at 1:42 pm

      I'm sitting here shivering a little and thinking about lunch. This sounds amazing. Oh for a bowl of that right now!

      Reply
    6. Nayna Kanabar says

      December 02, 2016 at 9:20 pm

      Shine for shelter box sounds like a lovely campaign, What a wonderful idea to host candle lit feast and make a difference to other peoples lives at the same time. Your stew looks hearty and delicious and perfect for this cold weather.

      Reply
      • Becca @ Amuse Your Bouche says

        December 05, 2016 at 11:47 am

        Thanks Nayna, it really is a fantastic charity.

        Reply
    7. Zombidle says

      November 14, 2016 at 10:34 am

      Looks really tasty, I will try it with my family :)

      Reply
      • Becca @ Amuse Your Bouche says

        November 16, 2016 at 10:21 am

        Do it, I'm sure they'll all love it! :)

        Reply
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    Hi, I'm Becca! I've been a vegetarian for 20+ years, and unlike most of my other childhood pursuits, I actually stuck with it! I love cooking vegetarian food that's full of flavour, but doesn't take a lot of effort to make.

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    Hi, I'm Becca! I've been a vegetarian for 20+ years, and unlike most of my other childhood pursuits, I actually stuck with it! I love cooking vegetarian food that's full of flavour, but doesn't take a lot of effort to make.

    More about me →

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