This quick and easy one pot Quinoa, Kale and Borlotti Bean Stew ticks so many boxes – it’s gluten free, dairy free, vegan, full of goodness, comforting and above all totally delicious.
It is rare for food to be comforting AND healthy, it is usually one or the other, isn’t it? But this gorgeous vegan stew is one of those rare exceptions. It is full of goodness, from the kale, quinoa, borlotti beans, garlic, carrots, tomatoes and courgettes and yet it is so fabulously warm and comforting. Plus this stew has bags of flavour and is ridiculously quick (15 minutes!!) and easy, and is made in one pot. Perfect for those evenings when you just want to flop!
It’s also easy peasy to adapt and sub in other things, making this great for clearing out the cupboards/fridge. You could use different veggies, different spices, different pulses – chickpeas would work well…you could also swap the tomatoes for coconut milk and even sub in spring greens or spinach instead of the kale.
To make this super quick I have used a ready cooked bag of quinoa – my favourite is the red and white quinoa from Merchant Gourmet. But you can cook your own quinoa first if you prefer.
I think this makes a fab one pot meal in its own right, but if you feel the need, you could serve this as a side dish instead, with grilled chicken or salmon.
To drink, this kind of tomato based veggie stew works very well with either a zingy Sauvignon Blanc, if you want white wine, or a soft and juicy Merlot if you prefer red. I think in both cases something from Chile or New Zealand would be fab.
Quinoa, Kale and Borlotti Bean Stew
Ingredients
- 1 medium onion diced
- 1 medium carrot diced
- 1 medium courgette diced
- ½ - 1 teaspoon chilli flakes
- 1 teaspoon fennel seeds (optional)
- 2 cloves garlic crushed or grated
- Salt and pepper
- 400 g tin chopped tomatoes
- 400 g tin borlotti beans
- 100 g kale
- 250 g pre-cooked quinoa
Instructions
- In a large pan over a low heat, fry the onion, carrot and courgette for 5 minutes, stirring occasionally, until softened and just beginning to brown.
- Add the chilli, fennel and garlic and fry for 1 more minute, then add the salt and pepper, tomatoes, borlotti beans and kale. Turn the heat up and cook for 3 minutes.
- Add the quinoa and cook for 1 more minute and then serve.
Notes
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Jenny Paulin says
This looks so healthy and wholesome EB . the colours in it are lovely too. Sadly, my fussy lot would not appreciate this meal but it looks good to me! x
Eb Gargano says
Thanks Jenny – it is full of goodness, but yes…you kind of have to love your veggies to appreciate this one!! But if you do it’s delicious 😀 Eb x
Mandy says
Wow this is my kind of meal Eb – you could have written this with me in mind! Sadly I’m with Jenny in that the kids wouldn’t go for this – but that wouldn’t stop me trying, lol!
Eb Gargano says
Haha – I thought of you when I posted this in Facebook just now, or rather your kids!! I was just thinking how with all those lovely veggies stuffed into this dish, it perhaps wouldn’t be their favourite dinner…to slightly understate it! 😀 Mine were surprisingly OK with this…they like carrots and courgettes and tomatoey sauces, so that was a good start, and they tolerate kale in small doses…to be honest, with all my mad food blogging experiments I think I’ve worn them down!! And actually they are slowly beginning to say nice things about my food…I still wouldn’t dare give anything like this to any other children though…imagine doing this for a playdate!! I don’t think that would end well!! Thanks for your kind comments 🙂 Eb x
Corina says
I would love this too and my younger child would eat it! He’ll eat loads of veggies if they’re in a stew. I don’t even need to hide them but I’d have no chance with my daughter! It’s the type of meal I’d do for lunch as my husband probably wouldn’t appreciate it as much as me either! x
Eb Gargano says
Haha – it seems this stew is a bit of a ‘Marmite’ kind of a meal – but I am glad you and your little one would enjoy it! Thanks for your kind comments 🙂 Eb x
Vicki Montague says
Love the look of this Eb! And I really like it when you suggest what wine would complement your meals…so clever x
Eb Gargano says
A pleasure, Vicki – I have all this pent up wine knowledge inside my head…I feel it’s only right that I share it! 😀 Eb x
Kirsty Hijacked By Twins says
I love quinoa it is such a fantastic ingredient! This stew looks and sounds so good. Thank you for sharing with #CookBlogShare x
Eb Gargano says
Isn’t it fab? I’m finding myself using it more and more! Thanks for your kind words 🙂 Eb x
Angela / Only Crumbs Remain says
Ooh this sounds so delicious Eb, though i know what you mean about food either being comforting or healthy. I just love how versitile it is, and I bet it’d be great in a tupperware container for lunch too.
Angela x
Eb Gargano says
Thanks, Angela. Ooooh yes, I think this would be fab the next day – if you have any left!! 😉 Eb x
Mel says
Love this! Quinoa is yummy and I only use it in salads so I’m quite eager to try it this way 🙂 Thanks for joining in with #FreeFromFridays.
Eb Gargano says
It’s really great in stews, and curries too – I’ve got another recipe I’m working on at the moment that uses quinoa in a curry…so good! Thanks for your kind comments 🙂 Eb x
Pam Hutchinson kelly says
Love lamb brill yes please
Liz says
Thank you Eb for this lovely recipe. My stepson’s girlfriend is vegan and she came round while I was making it for her. She confessed that she doesn’t like quinoa so I left it (and the chilli as she can’t handle it) out and used it as a rustic sauce for some pasta instead. I also added a sprinkling of Marigold bouillon powder into it while it was cooking. It was utterly delicious – colourful, lots of texture and we all ended up choosing the vegan sauce over the meatballs that I’d provided for the others round the table. Result!
Eb Gargano says
Yay! So pleased to hear this, Liz. Really happy you all liked it so much!! Eb 🙂