Hearty Vegan Sweet Potato Stew (Printable)

A nourishing blend of sweet potatoes, beans, and colorful vegetables in a rich tomato broth.

# Ingredient List:

→ Vegetables

01 - 2 medium sweet potatoes, peeled and diced (about 1.1 lbs)
02 - 2 medium Yukon Gold or russet potatoes, peeled and diced (about 0.66 lbs)
03 - 2 carrots, sliced
04 - 1 large onion, diced
05 - 2 celery stalks, sliced
06 - 3 garlic cloves, minced
07 - 1 red bell pepper, diced
08 - 1 zucchini, diced
09 - 1 cup baby spinach (optional)

→ Beans & Legumes

10 - 1 can (14 oz) cannellini or kidney beans, drained and rinsed
11 - 1 can (14 oz) chickpeas, drained and rinsed

→ Tomato Broth

12 - 1 can (14 oz) diced tomatoes
13 - 4 cups (32 fl oz) vegetable broth
14 - 2 tbsp tomato paste

→ Spices & Seasoning

15 - 1 tsp smoked paprika
16 - 1 tsp dried thyme
17 - 1 tsp ground cumin
18 - ½ tsp ground black pepper
19 - 1 tsp salt, or to taste
20 - 1 bay leaf
21 - 2 tbsp olive oil

→ Garnish

22 - 2 tbsp chopped fresh parsley (optional)
23 - Lemon wedges (optional)

# Steps:

01 - Heat olive oil in a large pot over medium heat. Add diced onion, sliced celery, and carrots. Sauté for 5 minutes until softened.
02 - Stir in minced garlic, diced red bell pepper, and diced zucchini. Cook for an additional 3 minutes.
03 - Add diced sweet potatoes, diced potatoes, smoked paprika, dried thyme, ground cumin, black pepper, and salt. Sauté for 2 minutes until fragrant.
04 - Stir in tomato paste, then pour in diced tomatoes, vegetable broth, and add the bay leaf. Bring mixture to a boil.
05 - Reduce heat to low, cover the pot, and simmer for 20 minutes until potatoes are just tender.
06 - Add rinsed beans and chickpeas. Simmer uncovered for 10 to 15 minutes, allowing flavors to meld and stew to thicken.
07 - Stir in baby spinach if using and cook for 2 minutes until wilted.
08 - Adjust seasoning to taste and remove the bay leaf. Serve garnished with fresh parsley and lemon wedges as desired.

# Tips from the Pros:

01 -
  • It tastes like you've been simmering it all day, but comes together in under an hour.
  • Naturally vegan and gluten-free without ever feeling like you're missing anything.
  • The kind of meal that improves as it sits, making it the perfect companion for meal prep Sunday.
  • So nourishing you feel genuinely better after eating it, not just satisfied.
02 -
  • Don't skip the sauté stage even if you're tired; those few minutes of cooking the aromatics and spices separately transform the stew from good to genuinely memorable.
  • The stew thickens as it sits, so if you make it ahead and it seems thin, remember it's supposed to—it'll improve overnight.
  • Taste before you serve; salt is your friend here, and every broth brand tastes different.
03 -
  • Dice your vegetables roughly the same size so they cook evenly and nothing disappears into mush before something else is tender.
  • The tomato paste step is where the magic happens; don't rush it or skip it, even though it feels like an extra step.
  • If your stew tastes flat, it's probably missing salt or bay leaf wasn't in there long enough—add both and taste again in a minute.
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