Vegetarian Winter Stew

Vegetarian winter stew is my own recipe to warm you up in the cold winter months. Most people think a stew needs to have meat to be hearty and filling. They couldn't be more wrong. My vegetarian stew is just as warming, and you won't feel bloated afterwards. Of course we can all do without the cholesterol too, and this recipe is a big help for those who are watching their cholesterol.

To make this winter stew, you need to get some miso, otherwise known as fermented soybean paste. It's widely available in any healthfood store or Asian Market. The ingredients are potatoes, parsnips, onions, garlic, big carrots-the type for soup. Slice the onions sideways, cut up fresh garlic-lots, cut potatoes in medium size pieces, same with the carrots and parsnips. Put everything in a heavy china,ceramic covered dutch oven or pot. You can make as much as you want and adjust the miso accordingly. Once everything is in the pot, mix a tablespoon of miso with hot water and stir until it's mostly liquid, use more miso for a larger dish, add a little black pepper and hot paprika, and some salt-not too much because miso is salty. If you don't mind getting your hands dirty ,you can put the spoon of miso in your hand and massage it all over the vegetables and then add some water. Mix miso with with the vegetables, there should be at least 1/4 inch of water on the bottom of the pot/oven, cover pot. Place in a 325-350 oven and bake for about 40 minutes, depending on how large the dish.

Remove the vegetarian winter stew from the oven and let it sit for 5 minutes and then serve. The winter root vegetables and the miso work together to make a robust stew that will be filling,warming, and delicious.

You don't need to add meat or chicken to a stew for it to be hearty, try vegetarian winter stew for a healthy change, it's so easy, it'll become a favorite for you and your family.