Hearty Vegan Sweet Potato Stew (Print Version)

Comforting blend of sweet potatoes, beans, and veggies in a robust tomato broth.

# Ingredient List:

→ Vegetables

01 - 2 medium sweet potatoes, peeled and diced (about 1.1 lbs)
02 - 2 medium Yukon Gold or russet potatoes, peeled and diced (about 0.66 lbs)
03 - 2 carrots, sliced
04 - 1 large onion, diced
05 - 2 celery stalks, sliced
06 - 3 garlic cloves, minced
07 - 1 red bell pepper, diced
08 - 1 zucchini, diced
09 - 1 cup baby spinach (optional)

→ Beans & Legumes

10 - 1 can (14 oz) cannellini or kidney beans, drained and rinsed
11 - 1 can (14 oz) chickpeas, drained and rinsed

→ Tomato Broth

12 - 1 can (14 oz) diced tomatoes
13 - 4 cups vegetable broth (1 quart)
14 - 2 tbsp tomato paste

→ Spices & Seasoning

15 - 1 tsp smoked paprika
16 - 1 tsp dried thyme
17 - 1 tsp ground cumin
18 - ½ tsp ground black pepper
19 - 1 tsp salt, or to taste
20 - 1 bay leaf
21 - 2 tbsp olive oil

→ Garnish

22 - 2 tbsp chopped fresh parsley (optional)
23 - Lemon wedges (optional)

# Steps:

01 - Heat olive oil in a large pot over medium heat. Add diced onion, sliced celery, and sliced carrot; sauté for 5 minutes until softened.
02 - Stir in minced garlic, diced red bell pepper, and diced zucchini. Cook for an additional 3 minutes.
03 - Add diced sweet potatoes, diced Yukon or russet potatoes, smoked paprika, dried thyme, ground cumin, black pepper, and salt. Sauté for 2 minutes until fragrant.
04 - Stir in tomato paste, then add diced tomatoes, vegetable broth, and bay leaf. Bring mixture to a boil.
05 - Reduce heat to low, cover pot, and simmer for 20 minutes or until potatoes are just tender.
06 - Add drained beans and chickpeas to the pot. Simmer uncovered for 10 to 15 minutes until flavors meld and stew thickens.
07 - If using, stir in baby spinach and cook for 2 minutes until wilted.
08 - Taste and adjust seasoning if needed. Remove bay leaf. Serve garnished with fresh parsley and lemon wedges if desired.

# Helpful Hints:

01 -
  • It's basically a vegetable garden in a bowl, and you can feel the nutrition doing you favors.
  • One pot means minimal cleanup, which honestly matters more than people admit on weeknights.
  • The recipe forgives you—swap vegetables, skip the spinach, add spice—and it still tastes like someone who knows what they're doing made it.
02 -
  • Don't add the beans too early—they'll break down and turn the broth mealy instead of staying intact.
  • The stew thickens as it sits, so if it seems thin at the end, give it five minutes of rest before deciding you need to fix it.
03 -
  • For a spicier version, add chili flakes near the end of cooking so the heat stays bright instead of mellowing into the broth.
  • Quality vegetable broth makes a real difference here—it's worth finding a good one or making your own.
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