9 Hearty High-Protein Vegetarian Stew Recipes To Make This Winter

What are the primary ingredients of a delicious stew? Big hunks of meat and all the veggies? Sure, sometimes. You might think removing the meat results in a lackluster meal, but that couldn’t be further from the truth.

The most delicious vegetarian stew recipes are beefed up strictly with plant-based ingredients like oyster mushrooms, chickpeas, tofu, potatoes, or lentils. Loaded with protein, they’re some of the best stews to nourish your body through the winter.

The best vegetarian stew recipes to make this winter

1. Instant Pot vegan tofu and potato stew

This stew can be ready in an hour, and it’s loaded with wholesome ingredients, including tofu, onion, carrots, celery, veggie broth, and frozen peas.

Get the recipe: Instant Pot vegan tofu & potato stew

2. Beef-less stew

This stew uses some of the same techniques used to make beef stew. Except this time, the secret ingredient that replaces meat is oyster mushrooms. “I love adding oyster mushrooms because they add this kind of chewy, meaty consistency to the stew,” said Rachel Ama, a vegan recipe creator and author of Rachel Ama’s Vegan Eats.

Get the recipe: Beef-less stew

3. Cauliflower and lentil stew

This vegetarian and gluten-free recipe is loaded with protein from the red lentils, as well as cauliflower, chopped tomatoes, and red peppers.

Get the recipe: Cauliflower and lentil stew

4. Vegan Irish stew

This veggie-packed stew is filled with hearty veggies like carrots, potatoes, and parsnips, leaving with you a filling option for lunch or dinner.

Get the recipe: Vegan Irish stew

5. West African peanut stew

This cozy West African peanut stew is packed with flavor. Instead of using peanut butter, you can swap in sunflower seed butter or almond butter—whichever is in your pantry.

Get the recipe: West African peanut stew

6. Sweet potato stew

The ingredients in this stew are so simple you probably already have them all on hand. There’s sweet potatoes, onion, garlic, diced tomatoes, canned chickpeas, and a whole lot of spices.

Get the recipe: Sweet potato stew

7. Curry red lentil stew with kale and chickpeas

This stew doesn’t skimp on nutrients. Between the lentils, ginger, tomatoes, onion, rice, and kale, it’s one of the healthiest and most well-rounded recipes around.

Get the recipe: Curry red lentil stew with kale and chickpeas

8. Vegan winter lentil stew

Cozy up with this winter lentil stew. Aside from being delicious, it’s also really affordable. The full recipe costs $5 to make.

Get the recipe: Vegan winter lentil stew

9. Instant Pot fennel, chickpea, and brown rice stew

All you need to do to make this stew is put your ingredients—including brown rice, chickpeas, and veggie broth—into your Instant Pot and you’re good to go.

Get the recipe: Instant Pot fennel, chickpea, and brown rice stew

Next up, try this warming one-pot vegetable dal recipe:

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