Big Vegetable Stew

My large family are all meat eaters but when I surprise them with a vegetable only dish they always ask for more. Vegetable dishes don't have to be boring, they can be filling and nourishing and for your pocket - cheap!

Remember to always source your ingredients from a supermarket or market local to you. I use Tesco ingredients and quote Tesco prices as that is my local supermarket.

Ingredients for Family of 6 (Adjust your size portions to suit your family)

1 bag 1.5kg of Tesco Everyday Value Carrots @ 89p
1 pack of 3 onions @ 1.00
1 2.5kg bag Tesco White Potatoes @ 2.00
750gr Tesco Everyday Leeks @ 1.59
750 gr Tesco Everyday Value Parsnips @ 90p
1 x 10 pack of Tesco Everyday Value Stock Cubes @ 20p
1.5 - 2 pints cold water

Tip : Buy in store what is seasonal or if making the same day what is on offer and marked down. Other veg could be celery, sweet potatoes, corn, mange tout, cabbage etc. Buy what you like at a low price.

Optional

Half a teaspoon of salt.
1 Teaspoon black pepper
3 Tablespoons Worcester Sauce
Bread
2 Tablespoons Cornflour.

Method.

Firstly prepare all the veg. Peel and slice the carrots and parsnips and do the same with the potatoes but cut the potatoes into small chunks. Slice and cut off the top and bottom of the leeks then slice them as you would the carrots. Peel and chop into small dices the onions.

Get a large saucepan and fill two thirds with water and bring to the boil on the hob/stove then turn the temperature down to medium. Throw in the potatoes and carrots and parsnips and allow them to cook for 10 minutes. Then throw in the leeks and onions and the optional salt, black pepper and worcester sauce if you have them. Crumble in 4 or 5 Vegetable stock cubes to give the stew more flavour.. Turn the heat down to a lower setting and cook for another 20 minutes. If the stew looks to watery add 2 tablespoons of cornflour which will thicken it up.

Once the vegetables are soft and cooked through serve in bowls.

Tip: I bulk this out with bread. A crusty loaf goes down well or a Tesco value loaf is the cheaper option.