With its touch of autumn fire to warm the eyes and heart as well as the stomach, this squash and butter bean stew is a hug in a bowl. It's a simple one pot meal, but incredibly tasty and satisfying. Suitable for vegans and vegetarians alike, it's easy-to-make, economical and visually appealing. Take it to a heartier plane and serve with rice, quinoa or crusty bread, if liked.
Warm a large lidded pan over a low to moderate heat. Add the olive oil, followed by the cumin seeds.
2 tbsp extra virgin olive oil, 1 tsp cumin seeds
Allow the cumin seeds to sizzle for a few seconds, then add the diced onion, celery and carrot along with a pinch of salt. Let the veg cook for ten minutes, but give an occasional stir.
1 large onion, 1 large carrot, 1 celery stick, 1 pinch sea or rock salt
Crank up the heat a little, then add the squash, garlic, chilli and rosemary. Stir and let the squash cook for five minutes, again giving an occasional stir.
1 medium butternut squash, 2 plump cloves of garlic, 1 red chilli, 3-4 sprig fresh rosemary
Add the tomatoes, butterbeans, vinegar and stock. Give a good stir, then cover the pan and bring it to the boil. Turn the heat down and let simmer for fifteen minutes or until the squash is just cooked. It should be tender, but not mushy. If a sharp knife slips in easily, it's done.
800 g tinned butter beans (lima beans), 400 g tinned chopped tomatoes, 1 tsp red wine vinegar, 300 ml light vegetable stock
Add salt, if necessary and a few grinds of black pepper. Taste test and add more seasoning, if needed.
½ tsp sea or rock salt, good grinding of black pepper
Serve in bowls with a good scattering of chopped parsley. Enjoy on its own, with some crusty bread or on a bed of rice, whole grains or quinoa.
Notes
How much salt you need depends on personal taste, but also how salty your stock is and whether the beans are already salted.You’ll find additional tips and info about this recipe in the main body of the post.Please note: calories and other nutritional information are per serving. They’re approximate and will depend on serving size and exact ingredients used. Please refer to my nutrition disclaimer for further information.