Recipe Roundup: Cozy Winter Stews

The cold days and nights of winter have arrived…it’s the perfect time for cooking hearty, warming stews brimming with meat and vegetables. Add a salad and plenty of crusty bread for a comforting meal that’s sure to take the chill off.

Hearty Beef Stew Two things set this old-fashioned beef stew apart from its rivals: browning the beef in bacon fat and adding lots of vegetables to the pot, both of which add flavor to the velvety sauce. The result is the ultimate comfort food.

Winter Vegetable Stew This vegetarian stew is chock full of colorful root vegetables and appealing flavors. Adding the lemon zest to the warm vegetables releases its citrusy, fresh aroma, providing a fresh dimension for a traditionally hearty dish.

Seafood Stew with Fennel and Tomatoes This classic seafood stew, with its Provencal flavors of fennel and tomato, is served in the traditional way, with crostini and aioli alongside.

Moroccan-Style Lamb Stew This exotically spiced stew is easy to pull off for a weekday meal. We love to serve it with pearl cousous to soak up the flavorful juices.

Pork and Pumpkin Stew Chock-full of tender pork and pumpkin and seasoned with a medley of fragrant spices, this warming stew is perfect for an winter supper with friends.

Spanish Chicken Stew Olives and almonds are staples of Spanish cuisine. Here, they are combined with chicken and slow-cooked with peppers, tomatoes and garlic for a powerful, full-flavored dish.

Beef Stew with Turnips and Greens Turnips have a delicately sweet flavor that pairs wonderfully with beef and hearty turnip greens.

Pork and Tomatillo Stew Lean pork loin is braised slowly in a sauce fragrant with tomatillos, tomatoes and carrots for a hearty, Latin American-inspired take on a traditional winter stew.

Kale, Turkey Sausage and Barley Stew This nutritious stew features vitamin-packed kale and wholesome, fiber-rich barley. If you want more heat, add a spicy sausage.

Lamb and Dried Apricot Stew This aromatic stew is even better the next day, once the spices have had time to really infuse the meat with flavor. Serve with a simple green salad dressed with a lemony vinaigrette.

Portuguese Clam and Sausage Stew Use fresh Mexican (not dried Spanish) chorizo, or substitute hot Italian sausage in this classic Portuguese dish. Serve with plenty of crusty bread for sopping up the delicious sauce.

Vindaloo-Spiced Chicken Thighs with Coconut-Tomato Stew Indian spices come to life in this comforting chicken braise, simmered in a richly-flavored coconut and tomato sauce. Serve over basmati rice.

Short Rib Stew with Paprika Sour Cream Short ribs braise slowly in the oven and come out caramelized and tender. This savory stew uses the shredded meat and the braising liquid. It’s a great way to use leftover short rib meat.

White Bean Stew with Porcini and Winter Squash This colorful, vibrant dish combines hearty winter squash with protein-packed white beans and earthy porcini for a satisfying and comforting meatless stew.

Green Chili Stew Commonly called simply chili verde, or “green chili,” this easy-to-make, delicious dish is one of New Mexico’s most popular traditional stews.

See more cozy winter stews here.