Is there such thing as a delicious vegetable stew?

[SpawnChorus]

I have a yearning for a proper hearty stew...as close to a meaty one as possible. I'm fed up with my usual bland orange-coloured beany effort, and want something dark and savoury. Does anyone have a good recipe?

Lots of mushroom s and some marmite should be involved.

Mmmmm yes...I was thinking along those lines. I am a recipe follower though...my improvised food is inevitably shit.

Root veg casserole:

Fry whole peeled garlic cloves, shallots, onions chopped in eighths, chunks of carrot and potato in olive oil til it starts to brown.

Add chunks of any other root veg - beetroot, parsnip, turnip etc, can also use squash such as butternut, tin toms, glass or 2 of red wine, veg stock, bay leaf, other herbs, tin of canellini/borlotti beans or something similar. Veggie worcester sauce/mushroom ketchup/tom puree etc to taste.

Put in oven or on hob for ages til root veg soft. stir now and then

20 mins before end I often make dumplings with veg suet (instructions on packet), adding chopped herbs such as sage.

A good one for making before a walk or something and leaving in low oven.

Thank you purplemyrtle :)

Dare I ask if it comes out looking orange? I don't know why I'm so fixated on the colour, but the darkness is a key element of my yearning.

And dumplings - yes dumplings are vital.

How about bourguignon?.

Very spooky. I swear I typed mushroom bourguignon. Who stole my mushroom?

No, vegetable soup is the work of the devil.

You won't be wanting my butternut/pumpkin and sweet potato suggestion then?

You might like this!

Definately red wine is your mate if you want the darkness

Oh that looks LOVELY!

Fellatio...g'wan then! (It sounds v orange though ...but undoubtedly tastier than my efforts)

Red dragon pie.
Not at all orange.
Aduki beans/celery/carrot/onion/bulgar wheat (or similar) stock/tomato puree/herbs/dark soy. Mash potato on top if you feel like it, also nice with potatoes or rice.
I'm not a veggie and I like it.
DD's favourite meal.
Or substitute puy lentils and add a bit of garlic and leave out the soy sauce.

Wn't be orange with plenty of full bodied red wine, especially if you go for beetroot. You could also stick a few portobello mushrooms in for darkness? And marmite as your stock.

Here's an orange one, but in my defence its very good.

No, I haven't' really got anything special in mind - I was just thinking along the lines of perusing my books for something butternut squash/sweet potato based for you when I noticed the no orange rule!

Update - made a luvverly stew last night:

6 (big) shallots, quartered
3 sticks of celery sliced
3 carrots chopped chunkily
500g mushrooms halved

sauteed the above in some butter then added:
most of a bottle of red wine (cheap "soft and fruity" 8% alcohol stuff)
couple of teaspoons of veg bouillon powder
teaspoon of marmite
bouquet garni
slosh of lea and perrins
couple of teaspoons of cornflour (mixed to a paste with cold water.

Cooked it for about 1.5 hours and then bunged in some herby dumplings.

It was tasty and not at all orange...I think my mistake has been to always add chopped tomatoes.