Vegetable Stew

Ingredients

  • 1 tbsp olive oil
  • 1 onion, peeled and sliced
  • 2 carrots, peeled and diced
  • 2 parsnips, peeled and diced
  • 2 celery stalks, chopped
  • 250g (8oz) swede, peeled and diced
  • 600ml (1 pint) hot vegetable stock
  • 400g can tomatoes
  • 420g can butter beans, drained
  • A handful of chopped parsley

For the dumplings

  • 100g self-raising flour
  • 50g unsalted butter
  • 50g mature cheddar
  • 2 tsp finely chopped fresh rosemary

Method

  1. Heat the oil in a large pan, add the onion and fry slowly for 5 mins. Add the other vegetables, cover and fry over a medium heat for 5 minutes, so they start to soften.
  2. Pour in the stock and canned tomatoes, bring to the boil, cover and simmer for 10 minutes. Stir in the beans and cook for another 5 minutes, until the vegetables are tender. Sprinkle with the chopped parsley.
  3. Meanwhile, make the dumplings. Heat oven to 200C/180C fan/gas 6. Rub flour and butter together to form breadcrumbs. Add remaining ingredients and mix well. Sprinkle over 2 tbsp water, mix to form a soft dough. Divide into six and roll into balls. Dot on top of stew and transfer to oven. Cook, uncovered, for 20-25 mins until dumplings are golden.