Few foods have the power to make people feel warm and comfortable on a cold winter night than stew. Thick, hearty, and very hot, stew is a much-loved comfort food and a filling meal without any accompaniments. Below are five stew recipes anyone can try the next time the weather outside looks frightful.
Classic Potato Leek Soup
Anyone who has ever tasted a baked potato will recognize the flavor of classic potato leek soup. Made primarily with garlic cloves, leeks, onions, white wine, bay leaves, and heavy cream, this popular stew takes approximately 70 minutes to make and feeds up to six people. Of course, it requires adding at least a dozen potatoes to the recipe as well. The potatoes should be very tender and allowed to sit for 20 minutes before introducing most of the other ingredients.
Beef in Flaming Chili Oil
This beef in flaming chili oil recipe is a much-loved Sichuan Chinese dish. Created by Chef Han of Z & Y Bistro, a chef known around the world for his authentic preparation of Northern Chinese cuisine, beef and flaming chili oil takes just 35 minutes total to prepare and cook. Dry chili powder, peppercorns, bean powder, and onions give it a strong kick. Other ingredients such as ginger slices, ribeye, soy sauce, water, and chicken bouillon help to balance that out somewhat. However, it’s not so much that the dish loses the intense heat and flavor people have come to love and expect.
Irish Stew
This stew is a meat and potato lovers dream. The main ingredients include lamb meat, onions, carrots, and potatoes. Irish stew also contains at least a dozen other ingredients ranging from chicken stock to dried thyme to black pepper and parsley leaves. Those making this stew should plan to spend about 30 minutes preparing it and about two and one-half hours to cook it. This should produce six servings for a cold and hungry crowd. Many of the ingredients of Irish stew are native to Ireland, hence the name.
Ham and Collard Soup
As one of the simplest items on this list, ham and collard soup takes just 35 minutes to prepare, cook, and serve up to eight people. The main ingredients include diced ham, grated Parmesan cheese, apple cider vinegar, navy beans, collards, chicken stock, and several garnishments. Preparing ham and collard soup starts by heating olive oil and butter over medium-high heat in a Dutch oven. The last step is to stir in the vinegar, taste the soup, and adjust the ingredients if needed.
Mini Meatball Soup
Just as Irish stew is a hit with meat and potato lovers, mini meatball soup should be a favorite among people who enjoy pasta with meatballs. It takes just 45 minutes to prepare, cook, and serve mini meatball soup for one to four people. The vegetables should cook separately from the breadcrumbs, garlic, grated cheese, nutmeg, pepper, meat, and salt for the best taste results. After bringing the ingredients together, the last step is to add broth and water to the pot and bring everything to a boil.
It’s a good thing that winter nights don’t have to be all about cold and misery with these five stew recipes on hand.
