Cozy Fall Stews
One-pot wonders for belly-warming satisfaction
If I had to choose a favorite type of dish to cook—and thankfully I don’t, because I thrive on variety— but if I had to, I’d pick those that come together in one big pot of broth-y, belly-warming goodness, like soups and stews do. I appreciate how forgiving these meals are, how easily their flavors can be tweaked as you go, and how they can come together quickly, but there is no urgency to them, allowing me to relax into the cooking process. I also love how they lend themselves to being made ahead, often tasting better reheated the next day. This collection of stews showcases the incredible variety such one-pot cooking can bring to the table. Each of these recipes will delight you, nourish you, and give you all the cozy vibes for the cool evenings to come. Enjoy!
Caribbean-Style Seafood Stew
Photo by Scott Suchman and food styling by Marie Ostrosky for The Washington Post
Bright with lime, fragrant with thyme, and spicy with Scotch bonnet pepper, this colorful, healthful stew, which comes together fast enough to make it weeknight-friendly, is brimming with Caribbean flavor. The amount of chile gives the stew a medium-spicy heat that’s prominent but not overwhelming – feel free to use more or less to taste (a little goes a long way), or substitute a milder chile, such as jalapeño.
Chickpea and Farro Stew
Photo by Tom McCorkle and food styling by Gina Nistico for The Washington Post
This one-pot meal gives you the belly-warming satisfaction of a real comfort food but with a rustic-chic elegance, thanks to the pairing of chickpeas with farro, an ancient variety of wheat that has made an on-trend comeback.
Beef and Many Vegetable Stew
Photo by Dixie D. Vereen for The Washington Post
This recipe takes a comfort-food classic beef stew in a fresher, more healthful direction by incorporating a bounty of vibrant vegetables. Along with the usual potatoes, carrots and onions, it has chunks of sweet red peppers and green beans that add more color, flavor and nutrition to the pot. They allow for a generous serving while keeping the portion of meat at a smart size.