If you read my Taste of Michigan post from last week, you may recall my new cookbook purchase – Big Vegan by Robin Asbell. This huge cookbook is FULL of inventive, creative, sophisticated (yet uncomplicated) vegan recipes. There are so many I want to try.
Ifinally decided my first test from this book would be the oh-so seasonally appropriate, Harvest Vegetable Stew in Mini Pumpkins, which is both vegan and gluten-free.
I must confess, before this recipe, I never before purchased, nor cooked, a parsnip. There’s a first time for everything, eh? They look like large white carrots, but have a sweeter taste. Turns out they are chock full of fiber, which will keep you feeling fuller longer.
They are also high in folic acid (especially great for you mamas-to-be out there). This is a great link for more parsnip info, including how to buy, store and prepare them.
The parsnips and sage give this stew a sweet, distinct flavor, which I very much liked. However, if you are not a parsnip fan, you could substitute potatoes or sweet potatoes in this recipe. If sage isn’t your thing, you could use poultry seasoning, savory, marjoram, thyme or rosemary.
As you can see in the photo, my stew turned out to be VERY thick (which, again, I liked). However, I think it may have been due to my use of vegan CREAM instead of vegan CREAMER.
I didn’t think there would be much of a difference, but cream is significantly thicker. The one I used was a mix of almond and cashew cream (unsweetened). Next time I will try the creamer instead.
SERVES 4
***
Vegan Harvest Vegetable Stew in Mini Pumpkins
(Gluten-free)
Ingredients:
- (4) 6″ mini pumpkins or small squashes
- 1 Tbsp. extra-virgin olive oil or Earth Balance margarine
- 2 cups finely chopped parsnips
- 2 cups chopped cabbage
- 3 ribs celery, finely chopped
- 1 cup chopped onions
- 1 large carrot, diced
- ¼ cup chopped fresh sage
- 2 garlic cloves, minced
- ½ cup white wine
- 1½ cups plain vegan creamer
- ¼ cup tomato paste
- ¾ tsp. salt
- ½ cup pecans, chopped
Instructions
STEP 1
Preheat the oven to 400ºF. Carefully slice off the top of each pumpkin to make a lid (make sure to slice below the base of the stem). Scoop out the seeds, then place the pumpkins (upside down) and lids on a parchment-lined baking sheet/tray. Bake until a paring knife can easily pierce the shells, 30 to 40 minutes.
I wrapped the stems in foil so they wouldn’t burn. Not sure if this is necessary, but it worked. When pumpkins are done, take them out of the oven, carefully turn them over, and let them cool.
STEP 2
In a large frying pan (I used a cast iron skillet), heat the oil over medium-high heat. Add the parsnips, cabbage, celery, onions, and carrot. Stir and cook until the onions start to brown, then lower the heat to medium-low, cover and cook for about 10 minutes.
STEP 3
When the parsnips are tender, add the sage and garlic and cook for about 5 minutes. Add the wine and raise the heat to boil it off until almost dry.
STEP 4
In a cup, whisk together the creamer and tomato paste until smooth, then add them to the pan with the salt and bring to a simmer. Stir until the sauce thickens, then take the pan off the heat, mash some of the vegetables coarsely and stir in the pecans.
STEP 5
Using a spoon, scoop out the pumpkin flesh into bite-size chunks. Stir the chunks into the stew. Be sure to leave enough of a ‘wall’ and bottom in the pumpkin shell so it is a sturdy bowl. In the photo above, I scooped out a little too much and my pumpkin bowl started to get a bit weak.
STEP 6
Fill the pumpkins with the stew mixture, then place the lids on top. Keep any leftover stew warm to serve in a bowl. Put the filled pumpkins in a baking dish, preferably with a lid, or cover them with foil. Bake until the pumpkins and stew are piping hot, about 30 minutes. Serve warm. (I garnished mine with a few extra chopped pecans.)
How festive would these little suckers be for Thanksgiving?! Even if I wasn’t vegan, I’d take this dish over turkey any day!
Stay tuned for Pumpkin Spice Turnovers, another Big Vegan recipe that I will be testing soon ;)
Beautiful!
Wow! This looks fantastic! And what a great way to preserve the cute stems.
By chance, did you ask the publisher if you could post a recipe out of the book? I didn’t see that anywhere, and I know it’s a point of contention for many publishers. Just a heads up!
Keep up the great photos!
Gorgeous idea…love, love parsnip…they remind me of my Granny <3
Amazing presentation – they look delicious! I love autumnal vegetables.
Did you make the pumpkin spice turnovers yet? Just wondering how they store…might make them for a teacher breakfast at my kids’ school, but they won’t be refrigerated overnight.
Just took the turnovers out of the oven. They are scrumptious. I ate two of them without even realizing I’d done it. I’d eat another but I only made two extra. They are going to be our pumpkin pie substitute on Thanksgiving! I’ll check back and let you know how they kept overnight and how they reheated.
You beat me to it! I’m in the middle of making mine and I’m realizing how inept I am at handling phyllo dough.
OMG!!! Just had my first bite. Heavenly. I can not wait to post about these!!!
Another hit! Had acorn squash that I used, also found a recipe via another site for vegan (soy) creamer http://veganyear.blogspot.com/2010/01/homemade-soy-creamer.html# and used the homemade stuff in this and it was delicious.
Will definitely be making this for Thanksgiving;) Thanks again.
I hope that wasn’t poor form to post the link.
Forgive me if I just did something incorrect.
Not at all – thanks for sharing! Glad you liked the stew :)
Wow! I just did my trial run for Thanksgiving and it was awesome!! I actually made the filling at the beginning of the week and froze it, worked GREAT! For Thanksgiving I’m going to add a vegan sage sausage so the meat eaters will think they are having a meaty dish! Yay! Yum!!
What a lovely dish!! i cannot wait to try this- the presentation and festive ingredients will knock the socks off my guests!! ;)