Autumn is for eating hearty stews that warm you to the cockles of yer tum. And one of the things I miss most about not eating meat is a rich, warming beefy stew that's been cooked for hours and hours. But despair not, if, like me, you're a bad meat craving veggie, this stew will satisfy the most beefy of cravings and leave you with a warming internal hug. The dumplings are the crowning glory for warm doughy loveliness and soak up the yummy juices as it all cooks away. Simple and quick to prepare, it's also ready in less than an hour.
For 4-6 portions you need
For the stew
1 pack quorn steak strips
1/2 cup brown lentils
1 bottle good stout (about 500ml)
500ml veg stock
1 onion chopped
2 field mushrooms, diced
2 tbsp tomato ketchup
salt and pepper
1 tbsp oil
3-4 carrots, cut into large chunks
For the dumplings
100g self raising flour
50g veg suet
1 tsp dried mixed herbs
cold water to mix
Begin by frying the onions, carrots and mushrooms in the oil for about 10 mins until the onions are softened and the juices have run from the mushrooms.
Add the lentils, quorn, beer and stock and bring to the boil. Season and add the ketchup. Cook for about 20 mins until the lentils are cooked.
Mix the dumpling ingredients together and form into 8 balls. Place on top of the bubbling stew mixture and cook for 20 mins. Serve with mash and curl up in front of the fire!
