Stews That Will Last You The Whole Week

Stews That Will Last You the Whole Week

Homemade stews are classic winter comfort foods. They refrigerate, freeze, and reheat well, so make one in a bigger time-saving batch based on your family’s needs. Its healthy, satisfying goodness will last you well into the week. Take it to work in a microwaveable container, serve a small bowl for lunch, and pair it with rice, pasta, salad, or crusty bread for dinner. Here are three easy, one-pot, one-dish recipes to take you through the week.

Chickpea and Vegetable Stew:

Here’s a perfect stew for meatless meal nights. To make it, sauté 1 cup of chopped onion and 1 cup of cleaned, trimmed, sliced leeks. Add in 1/2 teaspoon ground coriander, 1/2 teaspoon crushed caraway seeds, 1/8 teaspoon ground cumin, 1/8 teaspoon ground red pepper, and 1 clove of minced garlic. Cook and stir the mixture for a minute or two. Add 3 cups of vegetable stock and bring to a boil. Add 2 cups of cubed butternut squash, 1 cup of sliced carrots, 1 cup of cubed Yukon potatoes, 1 tablespoon of harissa seasoning, 1 1/2 teaspoons tomato paste, and 1 15-ounce can of drained chickpeas. Bring the pot to a boil, simmer for 20 to 30 minutes, and stir in 1 1/2 teaspoons honey. Serve over a bed of couscous or your favorite pasta. This recipe makes 8 servings.

Fish Stew

A healthy stew like this doesn’t need pasta, just a side of crusty bread for dipping into the broth. Begin by sautéing 1 chopped onion for 4 minutes. Add 3 minced cloves of garlic, 1 medium chopped tomato, and 2 teaspoons of tomato paste. Cook on low for about 10 minutes. Add an 8-ounce can of clam juice, 1/2 cup dry white wine (optional), and 1 1/2 pounds of cubed firm white fish (such as halibut, cod, or sea bass). Simmer until the fish easily flakes apart — about 3 to 5 minutes. Season to taste with oregano, dry thyme, hot sauce, pepper, and salt. This recipe makes 4 servings.

Slow Cooker Pork Stew

Cut 2 pork tenderloins into large chunks. Season them well with salt and pepper, and put them into your slow cooker. Add in 2 large sliced carrots, 2 chopped celery ribs, and 1 medium chopped onion. Separately, whisk 3 cups of beef broth with 2 tablespoons of tomato paste and a dash of dried rosemary. Add in 1/3 cup pitted, dried chopped plums and 1/3 cup Greek olives. Cover and cook on low for 5 to 6 hours. Serve over mashed potatoes. This recipe makes 8 servings.

Cooking stews makes your house fragrant, so simmer away. Feel free to experiment by adding leftover bits of vegetables, meats, and beans to add a little more bite to your hearty stew. Log onto Foodlion.com to find more stew recipes, including beef stew, to get you through the chilly season.