Slow Cooker Rich Vegetable Stew With Cheesy Dumplings And Creamy Rice Pudding

Slow Cooker Rich Vegetable Stew With Cheesy Dumplings

This is no bog standard stew I can tell you! Slow cooker rich vegetable stew with cheesy dumplings and creamy rice pudding.The vegetable stew can use various different vegetables, celery can be used instead of leeks, parsnips and swede instead of potatoes and the dumplings can have the cheddar cheese omitted and ricotta or feta used instead.In essence you could make lots of different variations of the same recipe.Rice pudding is a firm family favourite and the creaminess coming from the evaporated milk and single cream makes this pudding the perfect comfort food to eat on those cold evenings.

Rich vegetable stew with cheesy dumplings

4 tbsp vegetable oil

225g button mushrooms

1 large onion, chopped

4 garlic cloves left whole

2 large parsnips, peeled and chopped (I substituted with 4 small potatoes)

2 sticks of celery, thickly sliced (I substituted with 2 small leeks, washed and chopped)

2 large carrots, chopped

1 tbsp of plain flour

1 tbsp of fresh thyme or 1/2 tbsp of dried

750ml/1 1/4 pints vegetable stock

450ml/3/4 pint of red wine

1 tbsp vegetarian Worcestershire sauce

4 tbsp tomato purée

3 bay leaves

For the dumplings

75g self-raising flour

1/2 tsp salt

25g vegetable suet

15g vegetarian Cheddar, grated

2 tbsp chopped fresh mixed herbs or 1 tbsp dried

Seasoning

1. Heat 2 tbsp of oil in a frying pan and add the mushrooms, cooking for 3-5 minutes.Remove and set aside.

2.Add the remaining oil and fry the onion, garlic, *vegetables you’ve chosen to use* until golden.Sprinkle over the flour, stir to mix and cook for 1 minute.

3. Combine the thyme, stock, wine, Worcestershire sauce and tomato purée and add to the pan along with bay leaves and the reserved mushrooms.Bring to the boil and transfer to the slow cooker pot and season.Cook on low for 6-8 hours or high for 3-4 hours.

4.To make the dumplings mix all the ingredients together and slowly work in 5 tablespoons of cold water to make a firm dough.Divide the dough into 12 and roll into small balls and add the slow cooker an hour before cooking ends.Enjoy your slow cooker rich vegetable stew with cheesy dumplings with chunks of wholemeal bread.

Adding Chrissie of Mediocre Mum’s Slow Cooker Sunday.