I love stews. They're so thick and filling, and I make sure mine is chock full of good healthy starches and veggies.
Like this recipe for my Hearty Vegetable Stew.
I normally make a big pot of Chili to take for my work lunches, but yesterday I pulled this one out of the recipe folder, and boy am I glad I did! I forgot how GOOD this was!
It has all the qualities I love in a great stew
Thick
Rich
Chunky
Hearty
Filling
Flavorful
It's also very low-fat and perfectly Vegan (of course).
In fact, as my kids would say, this Hearty Vegetable Stew is the BOMB!
Pair it up with a nice, warm hunk of homemade bread, and you'll be thanking me later I promise you.
It may look like a lot of work, but honestly, it's worth it.
Hearty Vegetable Stew

I have made this several ways over the years, and since I just made this last night I thought I'd update the recipe, include a few new photos, and re-post it.
Many people have asked about leaving out the wine in my recipes, I think it adds a really rich flavor but if you cannot have wine, additional veggie broth or water will work as well.
Lastly, many of my non-US readers have asked about Kitchen Bouquet. It is simply a browning sauce, mostly used for coloring. I like the rich color it gives my food, with the bit of additional sweetness, but it is completely optional if you cannot find it or choose to leave it out.
I know Amazon has it, and I'll include a link here. But I also found this on the web for possible substitutions....
Depending on what flavour would go with what you are making, you could try Worcestershire Sauce (vegan), soy sauce, instant coffee granules or Bisto gravy mix, though the latter will also thicken the item a bit.

Hearty Vegetable Stew
- Yield: 12 bowls 1x
- Category: Soup/Stew
- Cuisine: American
Description
A Hearty Vegetable Stew chock full of healthy starches, veggies, mushrooms, and a rich savory broth. Paired with a thick slice of homemade bread - perfect.
Ingredients
Roux
- 1 small Onion ((minced))
- 1 clove Garlic ((minced))
- 1 rib Celery ((minced))
- 1 Carrot ((minced))
- ¼ cup Low Sodium Vegetable Broth ( )
Stew
- 1 large Onion ((chopped))
- 8 oz Button Mushrooms ((sliced))
- 8 oz Portobello Mushrooms ((sliced))
- 1 tsp Dried Rosemary
- 1 tsp Italian Seasoning
- ½ cup Red Wine (or broth) ((but the wine really adds a good flavor))
- 3 cups Low Sodium Vegetable Broth ( )
- ½ tsp Salt
- ¼ tsp Ground Pepper
- 1 can Diced Tomatoes - no salt added ((15oz))
- 2 medium Carrots ((chopped))
- 2 ribs Celery ((chopped))
- 2 Yukon Gold Potatoes ((chopped))
- 1 can Tomato Sauce ((8oz))
- ½ tsp Kitchen Bouquet ((optional for color))
- 1 Tbs Balsamic Vinegar
- 1 Tbs Cornstarch
- 1 cup Frozen Peas
Instructions
- Mince the carrot, celery stalk, and small onion for the roux very fine.
- Saute this mixture in ¼ cup of veggie broth until the veggies are nice and soft.
- Add the large chopped onion and continue cooking until softened.
- It’s ok if the liquid gets a little low – the brown bits add to the flavor.
- Add the mushrooms and cook on medium high until they lose their liquid.
- Season with the rosemary and italian seasoning.
- Add the wine and deglaze any brown spots in your pan. (This is the good stuff!)
- After a few minutes add the rest of the broth, the tomatoes and tomato sauce.
- Add all your chopped veggies and turn the heat up to boil.
- Add the rest of the seasonings – but not the cornstarch.
- Once it’s boiling, turn down the heat to low and add the peas.
- Mix the cornstarch with a tablespoon of cold water and stir this in to thicken.
- Simmer to desired consistency.

Sue
Honestly, this is an amazing vegan stew. The end product is way more amazing than the sum of its parts!
★★★★★
Kevin
Very nice thank you , used 2 tablespoons of rosemary and Italian seasoning and and I bit more wine ., didn’t think it was enough for 12 bowls more like 6 , good job we made dumplings
★★★★★
Clew
Hello! I just made this today! It did take a bit of time for prepping, but i made it in my instapot. Cooked 30 minutes. Looked beautiful and was very hearty and tasty! Not sure if i will serve with sour dough bread or corn bread. Definitely will make again!!! Thank you!!
★★★★★
StaceyAW
I'm not sure if this was already asked (I searched through a couple comment), but you have Celery listed twice. At the top, you say one rib and at the bottom you say 2 ribs. I just wanted to make sure its not supposed to be another vegetable. Thank you.
Chuck Underwood
The first time is finely minced to make a sauce, the 2nd is as a regular ingredient.
George
I made it today. Not into onions, I left them out. I added in Ombroth from OMfoods. (Organic Matters Foods)
I put in all the other ingredients except wine, none in the house.
This smells so very good. Just waiting for the spuds to cook.