beef-style stew with gremolata

A few years ago I made a vegan beef stew for a friend of mine who was going vegetarian. He had said that it was beef stew he was really missing. It was his comfort food. I made him the version below. He wound up saying it was too much like beef stew and therefore couldn't eat it!

While I think the dish came out pretty good, I can say without a doubt that there is no beef in it at all, and while it is nostalgically reminiscent of beef stew, there is no cow anywhere.

I make this stew using seitan, but Beyond Meat chicken strips work just as well - or simply adding more vegetables. Since this is not an animal-based stew, it is not dependent on meat for the flavor or thickness, therefore you can sub for the seitan with ease.

I cooked celery, carrots, onions, peas and potatoes in this dish, but any root vegetable would be equally delicious (if not better) - parsnip, turnip, rutabaga, fennel or even sweet potatoes.

For an added zing, make the gremolata. Gremolata is a mixture of minced parsley, minced garlic and lemon zest. It offers a fresh and piquant flavor to the earthy and rich-tasting stew. You could also serve the stew over cooked pasta. So good!

BEEF-STYLE STEW WITH GREMOLATA PRINTER-FRIENDLY RECIPE

If you haven't entered the giveaway for Robin Robertson's More Quick-Fix Vegan cookbook, go do it now! Contest ends May 1.

I am linking to these recipe parties: The blogs hosting Healthy Vegan Fridays are Suzanne at Hello Veggie, Anna at Herbivore Triathlete, and Kimmy at Rock My Vegan Socks.  

I’ve also decided to submit this dish to What I Ate Wednesday hosted by Peas and Crayons.

"more quick-fix vegan" giveaway

BANH-MI NOODLES 

I was so excited when I received this book in the mail! Not only are the recipes completely delicious and quick to prepare, not to mention easy, Robin Robertson used my photos in the book! "More Quick-Fix Vegan" is the follow-up to "Quick-Fix Vegan" and I couldn't be more ecstatic about it!

I find myself pulling these books off the shelf more than I can say! Fast and wonderful vegan recipes are the best and Robin keeps delivering them.

Check out the "Banh-Mi Noodles" (link is to recipe) at the top of the post, out of the "Pasta for Dinner" chapter.

The dish below, "Roasted Brussels Sprouts and Chickpeas" is a favorite of mine from the "Out of the Oven" chapter.  I love that Robin makes use of inactive time and preparing some of the oven recipes ahead of time and then popping the pan in the oven is just what this busy parent needs.

ROASTED BRUSSELS SPROUTS AND CHICKPEAS

"Chickpea Nicoise" (link is to recipe) is featured in the "Stir-fries, Sautes and Skillet Dishes" chapter. This is another favorite of mine in the book. Nicoise salad is traditionally made with piquant olives and this skillet dish does not disappoint.

CHICKPEA NICOISE

Pad Thai has to be one of the best-loved dishes. Add spring vegetables and it is elevated even higher. Just thinking about the dish makes me hungry!

PAD THAI PRIMAVERA

One of my favorite chapters in the book is the "Big Bowls Chapter." This chapter is new to the Quick-Fix series and is heaven sent! It is full of recipes that are a complete meal in a bowl. Roasted vegetables are completely delicious and tabouli is wonderful, so putting them together is perfect!

ROASTED VEGETABLE TABOULI BOWLS

As typical of Robin, she uses lots of fresh and colorful vegetables, and accessible pantry ingredients. If you want to check out the recipes before you buy, Robin has a few published on her site. Check the links above or look here and here.

Want to win the book? Follow me on Twitter or like me on Facebook and leave a comment letting me know. Contest ends on the first so be sure to check back on May 2nd to find out if you are the winner. The winner will have until the 5th to contact me before I will have to move on to another choice.

I will tell you that it is rare when the original winner actually responds and invariably it is the second or even third choice who actually wins, so do yourself a favor - if you enter to win, check back to see if you did!