Easy Vegan Stovies (Scottish Potato Stew)
Featuring delicious soft potatoes and mushy red lentils, these easy vegan stovies are a simple and hearty twist on a Scottish classic.
Ingredients
- 1 tablespoon olive oil or plant-based butter
- 2 onions, sliced
- 2 carrots, peeled and chopped into large chunks
- 1 litre vegan stock
- 2 tablespoons Marmite (or other yeast extract)
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon dried sage
- ½ teaspoon smoked paprika
- 2 bay leaves
- 200 g dried red split lentils, rinsed
- 1 kg potatoes, peeled and cut into thick chunks or slices
- Salt and pepper, to taste
- Fresh chives or parsley, to serve (optional)
Instructions
- In a large pan with a lid, heat the oil on low/medium heat. Add the onion, carrot, salt, and pepper and gently soften for around 6-8 minutes or until the onion starts to turn a very light brown.
- Next, add the vegan stock, Marmite, garlic powder, dried sage, smoked paprika, bay leaves, and red lentils. Mix everything well, cover with a lid, bring to a gentle simmer, and cook on a low heat for 10 minutes.
- After 10 minutes, stir in the potatoes and top up with enough water to just cover them (usually around 200-300 ml for me). Cover with a lid and bring to a gentle simmer.
- Cook on a low heat for 40-50 minutes or until the potatoes are tender and starting to break down. From time to time, give the mix a stir to stop the lentils from sticking to the bottom (I know that stirring stovies is considered unconventional, but I'd highly recommend it here and I promise the final results will be great!). If it's looking dry, add a little extra stock or water.
- After 40-50 minutes, you should have a hearty mix of mushy lentils and soft potato chunks that are starting to turn to mash. Adjust the seasoning and serve warm.
Notes
Quantity: This recipe should provide four decent portions with simple sides such as oatcakes. If you increase the quantities, you may need to allow for a little extra cooking time to reduce the liquid and thicken the stew.
Cooking time: This will vary slightly depending on how large your potato chunks/slices are and how soft you want them.
Other additions: Stovies are traditionally all about leftovers, so throw in anything you have lying around. You could also add other ingredients like celery, turnip, parsnip, or even mushrooms.
Lentils: Red lentils are great for adding to the characteristic mushy texture of stovies. If you want to use other dried lentils – such as green lentils or Puy lentils – you may need to cook these for longer before adding the potatoes.
Make it meatier: If you want to add a meatier texture to your vegan stovies, try including meat substitutes such as plant-based sausages, mince, seitan, or leftover vegan pancetta.
Note: If you’re completely replacing the red lentils with a meat substitute, you won’t need as much liquid during cooking. I’d suggest starting with half the amount of stock and going from there.
Potatoes: I'd suggest using an all-rounder such as Maris Piper or Yukon Gold. Other good varieties include baking potatoes, Désirée, Mozart, or Laura.
Potato skins: I'll often leave the skins on in other recipes, but in stovies I like the potatoes without them. It's totally up to you.
Herbs: I think dried sage works really well in savoury recipes like this, but I'm sure herbs like rosemary or thyme would also work well.
Gluten-free: To ensure these stovies are 100% gluten-free, use a yeast extract and vegan stock that are certified or labelled as such.
Storage: Store in the fridge for up to four days or freezer for up to six months.
If you liked this recipe, you might also enjoy:
- Ultimate Vegan Haggis
- Vegan Scotch Broth
- Vegan Cranachan (Scottish Dessert)
- Smoky Mushroom & Red Lentil Pâté
- Vegan Breakfast Hash
- Vegan Cottage Pie
- Lemony Butter Bean Stew
- Vegan Sausage Casserole
Nutrition
Calories: 452kcalCarbohydrates: 84gProtein: 21gFat: 4gSaturated Fat: 1gSodium: 262mgPotassium: 1872mgFiber: 23gSugar: 7gVitamin A: 5238IUVitamin C: 57mgCalcium: 86mgIron: 6mg
Nutrition Facts
Easy Vegan Stovies (Scottish Potato Stew)
Amount Per Serving
Calories 452
Calories from Fat 36
% Daily Value*
Fat 4g6%
Saturated Fat 1g6%
Sodium 262mg11%
Potassium 1872mg53%
Carbohydrates 84g28%
Fiber 23g96%
Sugar 7g8%
Protein 21g42%
Vitamin A 5238IU105%
Vitamin C 57mg69%
Calcium 86mg9%
Iron 6mg33%
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.
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