can we talk about stew?

[Tommy]

I can do stew now thanks to MN and a few tips from my brother - now I feel ready to take on dumplings!

I bought some suet and it says they have to be cooked for 20 mins in the stew. Could I stil make the stew earlier in the day and add the dumplings while heating it up later? If I do that, will the veggies go mushy in the 20 mins or should I just not completely cook the stew beforehand?

TIA

Do you want the veggies to go mushy, or not?

If yes (I would) cook it all the way through for as long as you've got. Personally I'd cook the dumplings in it first time around and just leave them in the pan with the stew ready for later, but see what everyone else says.

Also, stirring with a whisk or a masher makes a lovely thick stew.

not too mushy!

Will the dumplings heat up ok later on then?

Yes they should do... though personally i'd do them before serving, thats just me though.

Veggies in stew are supposed to go mushy and sort of disappear into the gravy - thats how I get DH to eat them! . Stew is one of those things that be reheated the next day and be just as nice, sometimes even better!

I would cook your stew. If you are having dinner/tea say at 6.00pm, I would put the stew on top of the gas to warm through at about 5.30 then put dumplings on top (uncovered) and bung in the oven for 20 mins on about 200.

There is no problem making up the dumplings a bit beforehand and leaving them in the bowl.

When I make a stew/ casserole (difference between them is a stew is cooked entirely on a hob and casserole in the oven btw), 20 mins before the end of cooking time (at eating time!), I drop in the dumplings and cook them at a medium heat in the oven with the lid off so they go nice and crunchy on the top.