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Hearty Vegan Stew and Dumplings

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Hearty Vegan Stew and Dumplings is a comforting, plant-based classic featuring a thick, savory vegetable stew topped with soft, fluffy dumplings. This cozy one-pot meal is rich, wholesome, and full of earthy flavor — perfect for cold evenings or a satisfying family dinner.

Ingredients

For the Stew:

  • 2 tbsp olive oil or vegan butter
  • 1 yellow onion, diced
  • 3 garlic cloves, minced
  • 3 carrots, chopped
  • 2 celery stalks, sliced
  • 3 potatoes, cubed
  • 1 cup mushrooms, sliced
  • 1 cup green beans or peas
  • 2 tbsp tomato paste
  • 4 cups vegetable broth
  • 1 tbsp soy sauce or tamari
  • 2 bay leaves
  • 1 tsp fresh thyme (or 1/2 tsp dried)
  • 1 tsp fresh rosemary (or 1/2 tsp dried)
  • Salt and black pepper to taste
  • 1 tbsp cornstarch mixed with 2 tbsp water (optional, for thickening)

For the Dumplings:

  • 1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
  • 2 tsp baking powder
  • 1/2 tsp salt
  • 2 tbsp olive oil or melted vegan butter
  • 3/4 cup unsweetened plant-based milk (soy, almond, or oat)
  • 2 tbsp chopped fresh parsley (optional)

Instructions

  1. Prepare the stew base: Heat olive oil or vegan butter in a large pot over medium heat. Add onion, garlic, carrots, and celery. Cook for 5–7 minutes until softened.
  2. Add remaining vegetables: Stir in potatoes and mushrooms. Cook for 5 more minutes.
  3. Season and simmer: Add tomato paste, soy sauce, thyme, rosemary, bay leaves, and vegetable broth. Bring to a boil, then reduce to a low simmer. Cook for 20–25 minutes until the vegetables are tender.
  4. Thicken (optional): If you prefer a thicker stew, stir in the cornstarch slurry and simmer for a few minutes until thickened.
  5. Make the dumpling dough: In a mixing bowl, combine flour, baking powder, and salt. Stir in olive oil and plant-based milk until a soft dough forms. Fold in parsley if using.
  6. Add dumplings: Drop spoonfuls of dough directly onto the simmering stew. Cover the pot with a lid and cook for 10–12 minutes without lifting the lid to allow dumplings to steam.
  7. Serve: Once the dumplings are puffed and cooked through, ladle stew and dumplings into bowls. Serve hot and enjoy!

Notes

  • Don’t lift the lid while the dumplings cook — they need steam to rise properly.
  • For a richer flavor, use mushroom broth instead of vegetable broth.
  • To make gluten-free dumplings, use a gluten-free flour blend and check your baking powder is GF-certified.
  • Leftovers thicken as they sit — add extra broth when reheating.
  • Make smaller dumplings if you prefer faster cooking time.

Nutrition

Find it online: https://thefamilycooking.com/hearty-vegan-stew-and-dumplings/