Warm, vibrant and full of flavour these stew recipes are the kind of cooking, easy recipes that cheer the table on chilly days. Each recipe is written in a friendly, upbeat voice and offers simple techniques to make big flavours with minimal fuss. Read on for six comforting stews from a Mediterranean inspired fish stew to a slow cooked oxtail that can be adapted into pasta, mash or soup.
Mediterranean Fish Stew with Lemon Couscous
This bright, speedy fish stew brings together tomatoes, olives, courgettes and parsley. It is ideal when looking for cooking, easy recipes that taste like sunshine.
Ingredients
- 2 salmon fillets, skin on
- 150 g couscous
- 2 cloves garlic, sliced
- 1 courgette, finely sliced
- 2 tomatoes, crushed by hand
- A handful of olives, parsley, lemon zest and juice
- Olive oil, salt and pepper
Method
- Fry the salmon skin side down in a little olive oil for 2 to 3 minutes until the skin crisps. Turn for 1 minute and remove.
- Pour boiling water over the couscous with a drizzle of oil and lemon zest, cover and set aside to steam.
- Sauté garlic, courgette and olives in the pan, add crushed tomatoes and about half a tin of water. Simmer for 5 minutes.
- Return the salmon to the sauce, squeeze over lemon and simmer gently for about 5 minutes until cooked through.
- Serve salmon and sauce over lemony couscous with a spoonful of yogurt and chopped parsley.
Smoky Black Bean Stew with Roasted Squash and Peppers
Roasting vegetables intensifies sweetness and gives these cooking, easy recipes an honest depth. This smoky black bean stew mixes roasted butternut, peppers and the natural thickness of okra for a satisfying bowl.
Ingredients
- Half butternut squash, cut into 3 cm chunks
- 3 peppers, cored and sliced
- 2 onions, 4 bay leaves, 4 cloves garlic
- 2 tins black beans plus their juice
- 1 tsp smoked paprika, 1 tsp ground coriander
- 100 g okra, brown rice to serve, yogurt and coriander for garnish
Method
- Toss squash with salt, pepper and ground coriander. Toss peppers with smoked paprika and oil. Roast both at 200 C for 30 to 35 minutes.
- In a casserole pan gently fry bay leaves, garlic and onions with a splash of water to soften. Add balsamic and the black beans. Swish the empty tins with water and add that liquid too.
- Stir in the roasted veg, add okra, then simmer 15 to 20 minutes so flavours marry and the okra gives a lovely texture.
- Make a fresh salsa with chopped tomato, quarter onion, coriander, chili, lime zest and juice. Serve stew with brown rice, yogurt and plenty of salsa.
Runner Bean Stew with Grilled Monkfish
This is a celebratory autumn dish that treats beans with care. The pan is scented with minty oil and anchovies to coax out rich, layered flavours. It is an example of cooking, easy recipes that look elegant but are straightforward to prepare.
Ingredients
- Fresh runner beans or store bought, potatoes, 2 tins plum tomatoes
- Leek, garlic, mint leaves, chilli, capers, anchovies
- Monkfish fillet wrapped in pancetta, lemon zest, parsley and a little parmesan
Method
- Make a mint infused oil then crisp the mint and set aside. Fry garlic, chilli, capers and anchovies, add leeks and sweat with a splash of wine.
- Add potatoes, tomatoes and runner beans. Simmer covered for about 20 minutes until tender.
- Rub monkfish with parsley lemon zest and black pepper, wrap in pancetta with a little parmesan and roast at 200 C for 15 minutes until pancetta is golden. Rest then slice.
- Serve the stew with the grilled monkfish and scatter with crisped mint leaves.
Lamb Shoulder Stew with Olives and Pickled Onions
A quick prep leads to a slow roast that rewards patience. This lamb stew is rustic, rich and perfect for communal dining and for those who enjoy cooking, easy recipes that reward time in the oven.
Ingredients
- 1.2 to 1.5 kg lamb shoulder off the bone, 150 g mixed olives
- 2 tins plum tomatoes, jarred pickled silver skin onions, rosemary
- Water, black pepper
Method
- Brown lamb pieces in hot oil with rosemary to create flavourful fond. Add pickled onions, olives and tomatoes, bash tomatoes with a fork and add water to cover.
- Oven cook at 170 C for about two hours until meat falls apart and sauce has reduced.
- Finish with cracked black pepper and serve with mashed potato crusty bread or polenta and the crispy rosemary from the pan.
Slow Cooked Oxtail Stew: Three Ways
Oxtail becomes gloriously unctuous with long, gentle cooking. This is a classic slow comfort and a shining example of cooking, easy recipes that truly let time do the work.
Ingredients
- 2.5 kg oxtail, carrots, celery, leeks, garlic
- 2 tins tomatoes, 2 tbsp flour, 280 ml porter beer, rosemary thyme bay
Method
- Roast seasoned oxtail until golden. Sweat vegetables and herbs, add flour then porter to deglaze. Add tomatoes and return oxtail to the pan with water to cover.
- Slow cook at 150 C for five to six hours until meat falls from the bone. Strip meat and reduce sauce.
- Serve three ways: with papardelle tossed in the sauce and a grating of parmesan, with creamy mash and greens, or as a bowl of soul warming soup with crusty toast.
Peppers and Pork Shoulder Goulash
Finally a pepper forward pork shoulder recipe for when a bold, slightly tangy stew is wanted. Paprika, caraway seeds and jarred roasted peppers speed things up and deliver classic rustic comfort.
Quick method
- Score and season pork shoulder and brown skin side down to render fat. Combine with sliced peppers, jarred roasted peppers, red onions, a tin of tomatoes, paprika and caraway seeds.
- Add water to cover and four tablespoons red wine vinegar. Oven cook at 180 C for two and a half to three hours until meat pulls apart.
- Serve with plain basmati rice and a spoonful of sour cream mixed with lemon zest and chopped parsley for freshness.
These are friendly, seasonal bowls designed to make weeknights cosier and to give the oven a chance to do the hard work.
Top Tips for Stew Success
- Brown meat well to develop deep flavour. Patience at this stage pays dividends.
- Use roasted vegetables to concentrate sweetness and layer flavour in one pot stews.
- Keep recipes flexible and use what is local and in season. That is the spirit of cooking, easy recipes.
- Let stews rest briefly after cooking so flavours settle and textures improve.
These recipes celebrate seasonal produce and simple technique. They are ideal when searching for cooking, easy recipes that offer comfort without complexity. Try one, tweak it and enjoy a cosy, flavourful meal with family or friends.
This article was created from the video How To Make The Most Comforting Stew Recipes This Autumn & Winter with the help of AI.
Comforting Stews for Autumn and Winter: A Joyful Guide to Cooking, Easy Recipes. There are any Comforting Stews for Autumn and Winter: A Joyful Guide to Cooking, Easy Recipes in here.
