What if one of the most comforting meals of the fall cost only a few dollars and came together in a single pot?
October is Vegetarian Awareness Month. So right now a lot of people are asking the same question: "Where do I even start with plant-based eating?"
We love that question. And our answer is simple. Start with one good pot of stew.
God set the table first
Long before there were cookbooks, God planned a menu for us.
"And God said, Behold, I have given you every herb bearing seed, which is upon the face of all the earth, and every tree, in the which is the fruit of a tree yielding seed; to you it shall be for meat." — Genesis 1:29 (KJV)
In the King James Bible, "meat" simply means food. What a kind gift. Seeds, grains, and fruits, given with love right from the beginning.
This stew is one we come back to again and again when the mornings turn cool.
Why we love it
Is it simple? Yes. One pot, one spoon, about 45 minutes.
Is it affordable? It's lentils. A bag of dry lentils is one of the best bargains in the whole store, and one bag makes several meals.
Is it real food? Just read the list below. You can say every word on it.
What you need (serves 6)
1 tablespoon olive oil (or a splash of water)
1 onion, chopped
2 carrots, sliced
3 cloves garlic, minced
1 teaspoon cumin
1 teaspoon dried thyme
2 medium sweet potatoes, peeled and cubed
1½ cups dry brown or green lentils, rinsed
1 can (14.5 oz) diced tomatoes
6 cups water or vegetable broth
1 bay leaf
2 big handfuls of spinach or kale
1 teaspoon salt, or to taste
Juice of half a lemon
How to make it
Start the pot. Warm the oil in a large pot over medium heat. Add the onion and carrots and cook about 5 minutes, until soft. Stir in the garlic, cumin, and thyme for 1 minute. Your kitchen will smell wonderful.
Add the good stuff. Put in the sweet potatoes, lentils, tomatoes, water, and bay leaf. Bring it to a boil.
Let it simmer. Turn the heat down, cover, and simmer 30 to 35 minutes, until the lentils and sweet potatoes are tender.
Finish it. Stir in the greens and salt. Cook 2 to 3 minutes, until the greens wilt. Take out the bay leaf and squeeze in the lemon.
That's it. Ladle it into bowls and give thanks.
Make it yours
No sweet potatoes? Use butternut squash or regular potatoes.
Like it thicker? Mash a few sweet potato cubes against the side of the pot.
Cooking for one or two? It keeps about 4 days in the fridge and freezes well.
Want a fuller plate? Serve it over brown rice or with a slice of whole grain bread.
A gentle word
Good food is one part of a healthy life, right alongside rest, fresh air, water, and trust in God.
We share recipes to teach and encourage, not to take the place of your doctor's care. If you have a health condition or take medicine, please keep working with your doctor as you make changes to how you eat.
Come cook with us
At our home retreat here in Virginia, we cook meals like this one side by side with our guests. You don't just eat well for a few days. You go home knowing how to make it yourself.
If that sounds like something you need, we would love to hear from you. No pressure at all. The door is open.
Until then, put a pot on the stove this week. Taste what God has given, and share a bowl with someone you love.
Next week on the blog... The air is getting dry, and your skin can feel it. We'll show you a simple oat and chamomile bath soak you can make with two things from your kitchen.