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Slow Cooker Vegan Beef Stew and Dumplings

By / June 12, 2021 / 20 Comments / Vegan Dinner Ideas, Vegan Meat Alternatives, Vegan Slow Cooker Recipes, Vegan Stews and Casseroles
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Slow cooker vegan beef stew and dumplings is the epitome of plant-based comfort food.

Deep savoury stew with sweet potatoes and the fluffiest, softest dumplings imaginable.

slow cooker vegan beef stew and dumplings

Seriously you have got to try making these vegan dumplings. They are not heavy or filling but resemble little pillows of yumminess.

You might want to double up the recipe as 2 dumplings per serving may not be enough!  I have a 3.5 litre slow cooker and not sure I could fit in more dumplings but I think I will give it a good try next time.

Origins of beef stew and dumplings

A stew is simply a selection of vegetables, pulse, meat, fish, herbs, spices, etc cooked in a flavoured liquid gravy-sauce.

Humans have been preparing stews for thousands of years. Most countries have their own favourite traditional stews.

Dumplings are also a traditional food prepared differently depending on the cuisine.

British dumplings are generally a mix of flour and suet. This type of dumpling has been popular for many hundreds of years. They were commonly used in stews and soups to bulk the meal out as meat was expensive.

slow cooker vegan beef stew and dumplings

Vegan beef stew and dumplings

For my recipe I have prepared the dumplings with self-raising flour, vegan mayonnaise, plant-milk and dried thyme. This combination works a treat!

Textured vegetable protein chunks (TVP) replace the beef element. I love how versatile TVP can be as well as how it soaks up all the delicious gravy flavours. TVP is also really economical and lasts well in the pantry. In the US soy curls can be used instead.

I have chosen to use sweet potatoes as they lend a sweet, creamy taste and texture, and the usual suspects of carrots, onions and garlic!

If you can source the new meat-free beef flavour Oxo cubes then I recommend these for this stew but if not any vegan beef flavour or veggie stock will be fine.

How to prepare vegan ‘beef’ stew and fluffy dumplings:

  • soy chunks and carrot chunks in slow cooker
    Add all the ingredients to the slow cooker.
  • cooking for 5-6 hours in gravy
    Set the cooker to medium and cook for 5 hours.
  • vegan beef stew and dumplings mix in plastic bowl
    Turn the slow cooker to high. Prepare the doughballs by mixing all the ingredients together.
  • vegan beef stew cooking in slow cooker
    Taste your stews seasoning. Add salt and pepper.
  • dumplings in slow cooker cooking in stew
    Scoop balls of dough and plonk into the stew.
  • dumplings rising and cooking
    Add a lid and cook for 20 minutes.
  • dumplings flipped over in slow cooker
    Flip the doughballs and cook for another 20-25 minutes.
  • slow cooker vegan beef stew and dumplings ready to eat in white bowl with blue rim, spoon at side of plate
    Check the seasoning, add salt and pepper.
    Serve up!
slow cooker vegan beef stew and dumplings ready to eat in white bowl with blue rim, spoon at side of plate

Slow Cooker Vegan Beef Stew and Dumplings

Print Recipe
Vegan beef stew and dumplings is the perfect comfort food meal.
Guaranteed to cheer you up on a wet, dull day!
Vegan stews are super nutritious, budget-friendly and naturally low in fat and calories. So we get to eat more food! How great is that?
Course Dinner, Main Course
Cuisine British
Prep Time 20 mins
Cook Time 5 hrs 45 mins
Total Time 6 hrs 5 mins
Servings 4
Calories 445
Author Jacq

Equipment

  • Slow cooker/crock pot. I use a 3.5 litre size.

Ingredients

  • 1 medium onion chopped
  • 4 garlic cloves fine chopped
  • 220 g carrots 2 medium. Chopped into chunks.
  • 460 g sweet potatoes Chopped into chunks.
  • 100 g celery 2-3 stalks. Chopped into chunks.
  • 100 grams soy chunks (TVP) or soy curls.
  • 2 stock cubes I used meat-free beef flavour OXO cubes. If using vegan beef Oxo cubes you may need 3 as they are smaller than other stock cubes. Alternatively use a different beef flavour vegan stock or vegetable stock. Using a vegan beef flavour stock provides the rich, brown gravy colour.
  • 1 tsp vegetable extract or marmite
  • 1 tbsp red wine vinegar
  • 1 tbsp tomato puree or paste
  • 1 tsp garlic powder
  • 1 tsp onion powder
  • 1 litre water

For 8 fluffy doughballs

  • 165 grams self-raising flour
  • 125 ml plant milk
  • 2 tbsp vegan mayonnaise I used Asda (UK) own brand of vegan mayonnaise.
  • 1 tsp dried thyme a little salt and pepper
Metric – US Customary

Instructions

  • Add all the ingredients to the slow cooker.
    Mix.
    Push the TVP down below the stock as much as possible.
    (Half way through cooking if possible give the stew a little stir and push the TVP down if necessary. But don't worry if you can't do this step!)
  • Set the slow cooker to medium for 5 hours.
  • (A lower setting may take a few more hours to cook.
    And a higher setting may take less time.
    It all depends on your slow cooker.)
  • After 5 hours prepare the dough balls. Turn the slow cooker to high while making the dough balls.
    Mix the flour with the plant milk, vegan mayonnaise, thyme, a pinch of salt and pepper, to a thick sticky wet dough.
  • Using a tablespoon or small ice cream scoop make 8 doughballs, plonking each one gently in the stew. Try not to let each doughball stick to another. But don't worry if they do.
  • Place the lid on the slow cooker and leave for 20 minutes.
    Gently flip each doughball be careful to not break them up.
    Cook for another 20-25 minutes with the lid on.
  • Check the seasoning. Add salt and pepper as desired.
  • Serve right away or use the keep warm setting.

Notes

The vegan beef Oxo cubes I used. I purchased mine from Asda (UK).
meat free vegan Oxo cubes
 
 
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Nutrition

Calories: 445kcal | Carbohydrates: 76g | Protein: 21g | Fat: 2.7g | Saturated Fat: 0.4g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g | Monounsaturated Fat: 1g | Sodium: 209mg | Potassium: 771mg | Fiber: 11g | Sugar: 15g | Vitamin A: 23725IU | Vitamin C: 9mg | Calcium: 208mg | Iron: 5mg

  

Slow Cooker Vegan Beef Stew And Dumplings Recipe Notes

  • Vegan stew will keep fresh in the fridge for up to 3 days.
  • Reheat leftovers until piping hot. A little more liquid may need to be added to reheat if the gravy is all soaked up!
  • Perfect for batch prep! Portions can be frozen until required. Defrost and reheat until piping hot.
  • Don’t have a slow cooker? Just use a large saucepan to prepare your stew. Gently simmer the stew for at least 45 minutes, and then add the dumplings. Cook the dumplings for 10 minutes then flip and cook for another 10 minutes. Add a lid while cooking the dumplings.
  • If cooking on the stove top you may need to add more veggie stock.
  • Instead of veggie or vegan beef flavour stock use some vegan gravy granules.
  • For thicker stews thicken up with a little cornflour/starch.
  • Switch out the sweet potatoes for white potatoes.
  • Bulk out the stew by adding more sweet potato and carrot.
  • Bulk up the calories by serving the stew over your favourite grain such as a portion of cooked barley.
  • Add some chopped kale to the stew before you add the dumplings.
  • Garnish with some twigs of fresh parsley.
  • For a cheezie hit and boost of nutrients add a tsp or 2 of nutritional yeast powder to each serving. Just mix through the stew and it will dissolve.
  • A chunk of wholemeal bread would be amazing with this vegan stew. Try my easy vegan Irish soda bread recipe. Vegan Irish Soda Bread

Looking for more traditional vegan stew ideas?

Try this easy vegan Irish stew with kale:Vegan Irish stew

And this traditional vegan Scottish Stovies recipe:traditional vegan Scottish Stovies

Related Posts

20 thoughts on “Slow Cooker Vegan Beef Stew and Dumplings”

    1. Jacq

      Brilliant! My son loves these dumplings and stew. Would love to know how your nephew liked them. Thanks for stopping by 🙂

      Reply
    1. Jacq

      I totally agree!!! Extra dumplings are a must. Although I usually end up sacrificing the dumplings to my kids and only having a few. As they love the dumplings so much! 🙂

      Reply
  8. Irina

    5 stars
    Made this stew for our lunch today. It is the best beef stew I have made and tasted. It is worth trying: yummy and delicious!

    Reply
  9. Beth

    5 stars
    This was amazing and so tasty! The flavor was perfect and I love the dumplings added to it! My family loved this stew! I’ll definitely be making this more often!

    Reply

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