Summer Vegetable Stew…A One Pot Meal

One of the hardest things to give up when switching to a plant based life style was comfort food, in the form of stews.  However, with this one pan summer vegetable ragu, I do not feel like anything is missing from my life! Full of aromatic vegetables and yellow potatoes this stew feels like it has been cooking for hours and it’s all done in 30 minutes!  Plus it can become a chicken and vegetable stew just as easily!  Versatility and deliciousness all in one pot?  Count me in!

I am a huge fan of hearty food.  Stews, soups and rice dishes are my fave.  It’s the kind of food that reminds me of my childhood and spending time in our kitchen as mama and babushka cooked up our meals for the week.  This is the kind of meal my babushka loves.  Full of vegetables and tons of fresh herbs, it screams warmth and love.

Babushka used to make a dish similar to this.  She used to make it with chicken drumsticks and chicken wings (yum.)  I used to love it when she made this, she called it a ragu.  I how the Russians steal famous French words, particularly those relating to the culinary world and then they completely interpret them as their own.  Classy 🙂

I had forgotten all about this dish that my babushka used to make so very frequently back in the homeland.  A few months ago when I was at my in-laws house, I was reminded of this comforting dish.  It happened to be one of those random unusually cold days in May.  We had a lot of those this year.  As usual I was on my way to pick up the munchkin from my in-laws house.  When I got there, I heard dead silence and only saw my MIL quietly chopping vegetables in the kitchen.  No TV was on, no barking dog, most importantly no three-foot toddler running at me with laughter and glee; it was strangely quiet.

“Hi Ella, where is everyone?” I said to my MIL as I walked in.

“Charlie is upstairs sleeping, her grandfather fell asleep with her.”  (Charlie is the munchkin)

“What are you doing,” I asked her trying to cover up the yawn already forming.

“Ahhh I had a bunch of vegetables left over in the fridge so I decided to make a ragu.  Munchkin likes it, I like it, I figure I have not made it in awhile,”

“MMMM that sounds really good.  Do you want some help?”  I said, stifling another yawn.

“Mila, munchkin just went to sleep 20 minutes ago, she will be out for a bit.  Why don’t you go and take a nap too for a bit.”  My MIL knows as well as I do, that only one chef can be in the kitchen.

I refused to argue and happily went and took a nap in the guest bedroom, the room where my hubs and I used to lay and watch movies late at night when he lived with his parents…sweet memories.

I was awoken 45 minutes later by a familiar and comforting aroma.  The aroma of vegetables and warmth. It was the summer chicken stew.  I must have some.  I snuck a peek into the munchkin’s room and realized she was still out cold…which gave me enough time to go inhale a large portion of ragu.

I stumbled into the kitchen, scaring my MIL half to death, and proceeded to walk towards the pot on the stove.  I opened the lid and saw all the beauty within.  Colorful red peppers, tender yellow potatoes and bright dill and parsley adorned the top.

“Take some.  You want some salad?  Maybe some black Kiev bread?  Here have some hummus and a new eggplant salad I made,”  I had not even had a chance to fully close the pot as all these offerings appeared on the table.  This is how the Russian moms and MIL’s roll… one meal is not enough, you need 99 accompaniments to it.

FYI…Kiev bread is the most delish bread there is.  You can see it in all the pictures.  Flavor wise it’s a cross between rye and sour dough.  It’s fantastic and the ultimate for dipping into the saucy goodness left behind.  I proceeded to do just so, lots of “mmmm’s and ahhhh’s” left my lips.  My MIL seemed pleased that she could feed her picky daughter in law.  The potatoes seemed to melt in my mouth and the veggies were filled with boatloads of flavor.  It was hard to believe that there was not any additional flavorings in there to make it taste so good.

What I love about this dish is in the heart of hearts, there are no rules.  It’s a simple and quite humble dish that literally you chop and drop everything into.  Made in one pot with a whole lotta love (hmm, summer vegetable stew recipe idea! Stay tuned for that one).  The veggies are interchangeable, as are the herbs.  Add cilantro to it and it can take on a whole new party in your mouth. (hmmm recipe idea! Stay tuned for that one).   You can eat it for lunch, or dinner in the summer or the winter.  It’s super light and comforting all in one.  It’s a one-hit wonder 🙂

My MIL made this with chicken, creating what could be called the perfect summer chicken stew recipe. And prior to my plant based life, I had also made it with chicken and it was to die for.  The best part is it is just as easy to make it with chicken as it is without.  Add the chicken in at the same step you add the potatoes.  And once the chicken is done, so is your ragu!  Easy as that.  Now go on and enjoy it!  I know am!