Kristi Whitley

Healthy Living

Autumn Vegetable Stew

From Forks Over Knives – The Cookbook

1 large onion, peeled and chopped
2 large carrots, peeled and chopped
2 celery stalks, cut into 1⁄2-inch slices
3 cloves garlic, peeled and minced
1 tablespoon grated ginger
11/2 tablespoons sweet paprika
2 teaspoons ground cumin
1 tablespoon ground coriander
Two 1-inch pieces cinnamon stick
8 cups Vegetable Stock, or low-sodium vegetable broth
1 medium butternut squash (about 1 pound), peeled, halved, seeded, and cut
into3/4-inch pieces
1 turnip, peeled and cut into 1/2-inch pieces
1 russet potato, peeled and cut into 1/2-inch pieces
One 15-ounce can crushed tomatoes
2 cups cooked chickpeas, or one 15-ounce can, drained and rinsed
2 large pinches saffron, soaked for 15 minutes in 1/2 cup warm water
2 tablespoons finely chopped mint
Salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste
1/2 cup finely chopped cilantro


The spices in this hearty soup are classic flavors of North African cooking—a mix of sweet, savory, bright, and earthy all in one dish. Saffron may be the world’s most expensive spice, but this recipe, like most, only calls for a small amount. This dish also calls for sweet paprika, which usually refers to a milder form of the spice.



Instructions:

Place the onion, carrots, and celery in a large pot and sauté for 10 minutes. Add water 1 to 2 tablespoons at a time to keep the vegetables from sticking to the pan.

Add the garlic, ginger, paprika, cumin, coriander, and cinnamon sticks and cook for 3 minutes.

Add the vegetable stock, squash, turnip, potato, tomatoes, and chickpeas and bring to a boil over high heat.

Reduce the heat to medium-low and cook, uncovered, for 25 minutes.

Add the mint and the saffron with its soaking water and season the stew with salt and pepper.

Cook for 10 minutes more, or until the vegetables are tender. Serve garnished with the cilantro.