A Chicken and Wild Rice Stew Is Perfect for the Fall
The fall is the ideal time to whip up a batch of a hearty stew. To really capture the season, you want to select the right stew, like one with butternut squash or mushrooms. You also want to avoid stews that are more suited for the spring or summer, such as ones featuring green peas or tomatoes. Here are the 10 best stews for the fall and 10 to avoid making.
1. Beef Bourguignon
This French classic encompasses the true comfort of fall. It's tender beef chunks simmered in red wine, carrots, garlic, and onions. The addition of thyme elevates the flavors. It's traditionally served over mashed potatoes and with crusty bread to soak up the thick sauce.
2. Pumpkin and Chickpea Stew
This stew lets vegans enjoy the many tastes of fall. The chickpeas offer protein and texture, while the cumin and cinnamon warm the dish. Using coconut milk is imperative as it balances the flavor.
3. Lamb and Barley Stew
Lamb is a great protein for the fall, and it pairs nicely with barley and root vegetables. These ingredients are slow-cooked to perfection and fill your kitchen with a rustic aroma that will make your mouth water.
4. Sweet Potato and Black Bean Stew
Sweet potatoes and smoky black beans come together to form a delightful fall stew. This meal is also packed with nutrients and spiced with chili powder, lime, and paprika. It's warm and zesty.
5. Chicken and Wild Rice Stew
The creaminess of this stew makes it a little different from traditional fall stews, but it's just as soothing. It blends tender chicken with wild rice, mushrooms, and herbs like rosemary and thyme. It's even lighter than many stews that you'll find on this list.
6. Butternut Squash and Sausage Stew
Spicy Italian sausage meets sweet butternut squash in a flavorful stew that embodies the fall. This stew's sweetness balances its bold flavors. You can add kale or spinach for a pop of color and more nutrition.
7. Venison Stew and Root Vegetables
This fall stew is more adventurous than some of the others, and far richer. The flavor of the lean venison marries with the earthy root vegetables to create a delectable and hearty meal. Add a splash of port to enhance the flavor.
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8. Apple Cider Pork Stew
This unique stew uses one of the season's more beloved flavors, apple cider. To make it, simmer pork shoulder in apple cider to create a tangy and sweet base, and then simmer with apples, onions, and sage.
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9. Mushroom and Lentil Stew
This hearty fall classic is a vegetarian stew that offers a big punch of umami. The mushrooms combined with lentils to make a protein-rich dish that's earthy and satisfying.
10. Moroccan-Spiced Carrot Stew
To make this amazing stew, simmer carrots, chickpeas, and raisins in a mix of cumin, cinnamon, and coriander. The sweetness of the carrots brings it all together, and the warming spices create something that your whole family will enjoy.
1. Gazpacho Stew
This should go without saying, but gazpacho should be exclusively reserved for the summer. This cold tomato-based soup won't satisfy your craving for warmth in the fall.
2. Lemon Chicken Orzo Stew
This bright, citrusy stew is a wonderful meal on any spring day, but it's too light and acidic for the fall. You want an earthy stew once the weather cools, not one that's sharpened by acidity.
3. Seafood Cioppino
This beautiful dish is hard to resist, but it was designed to be enjoyed by the coast on a warm day. The briny flavors are light and summery and not rich enough for a fall evening.
4. Coconut Shrimp Stew
This stew is tropical, and the coconut makes you feel like you're lounging on a beach. It's one of the least autumnal stews, so we recommend saving this recipe until the weather warms and you can eat a bowl with friends on your patio.
5. Green Pea and Mint Stew
This stew is too delicate for the fall. Its ingredients highlight spring flavors, and the garden-fresh herbs feel out of place. It's light and floral and simply doesn't align with the food theme of the season.
6. Summer Corn Chowder
There are several chowders appropriate for the fall, but a summer corn chowder, which is aptly named, isn't one of them. The sweet corn is wonderful in this rich chowder, but it will lose its crispness if you try to use it when it's not in season.
7. Zucchini and Tomato Stew
Both zucchini and tomatoes are at their peak in the summer. Once fall comes, these beautiful ingredients lose their flavor and brightness, and will create a watery stew that's far less hearty than it should be.
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8. Cucumber and Dill Stew
This herbaceous stew should only be found on restaurant menus in the spring and summer. It's refreshing but lacks the deep, roasted flavors that are synonymous with the fall.
9. Clam and Corn Stew
This stew is a coastal favorite with its light and briny flavor. As a fall stew, however, it falls flat. It lacks the earthy tones and richness that we crave in the fall. Put this one aside for a few months in favor of a woodsy, heartier stew.
10. Summer Vegetable Ratatouille Stew
This one should be obvious, since "summer" is right in the title. Ratatouille might look hearty, but it's built around summer vegetables, like eggplant, zucchini, bell peppers, and tomatoes. These ingredients won't be in season once the fall rolls around, and your ratatouille stew will suffer.
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