Stew is one of the oldest dishes in the world. According to NPR, there is even evidence that Neanderthals in what is now Iraq might have consumed broth that had been boiled over an open flame. “This doesn’t prove that they were making soups or stews,” archaeologist John Speth told the publication. “But I would say it’s quite likely.”
The dish has survived thousands of years—it’s still a staple meal for many families today, especially in the colder months. Of course, there are many different varieties of stew, but from Ireland to France to Ethiopia, beef stew, specifically, is a staple.
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In France, beef is often slow-cooked in red wine, for example, to make boeuf bourguignon. In Ireland, the meat is almost always simmered with potatoes. And in Ethiopia, sega wat is a spicy blend of beef with ingredients like chilies, garlic, and ginger. This is just scratching the surface—cultures all over the world have their own versions of slow-cooked beef in broth.
However, it is also possible to make a hearty, comforting, and meaty stew without beef at all. Find some of our favorite ways to make this crowd-pleasing dish with all the same flavor and texture, sans the meat.
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Why skip the beef?
Beef is one of the most popular meats in the world. It’s not just cooked in stew, of course, but it’s the key ingredient in everything from fast-food burgers to ground mince. However, beef comes with some serious drawbacks.
The beef industry is a major driver of environmental destruction, for example. It’s the biggest driver of deforestation in the world and a major source of greenhouse gas emissions. In fact, it produces more methane than any other industry. Per the BBC Climate Change Food Calculator, eating beef one to two times a week emits the equivalent of driving a gas car more than 1,540 miles a year.
But beef doesn’t just damage the planet. It also damages our health. Multiple studies have linked red meat to an increased risk of chronic diseases, including colorectal cancer, type 2 diabetes, and heart disease. In fact, in 2022, one study suggested that red meat increases the risk of cardiovascular disease by 22 percent per serving.
But it is possible to get that same beefy texture without actually eating meat. Plant-based ingredients like seitan, mushrooms, and textured vegetable protein (TVP) can help to effectively replicate all the flavor and mouthfeel, without the negative health or environmental implications. Find out how to make a delicious beef stew without the beef below.
7 vegan beef stew recipes
These plant-based recipes pack all of the flavors and cozy comfort of beef stew without the meat.
Jeff Wysocarski
1 Meaty Vegan Seitan Bourguignon
Rich and aromatic, bourguignon is a French winter classic. But while it’s usually made with beef, this delicious recipe gives all the same warming, comforting, and hearty flavor using plant-based ingredients like seitan, brown mushrooms, and vegan bacon. For the perfect cold weather midweek meal, serve with crusty bread and a pile of creamy mashed potatoes.
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Traditional Plant-Based Cooking
2 Vegan Traditional British Beef Stew
This delicious take on British beef stew features chunks of TVP, which effectively soak up all of the flavor of ingredients like dried sage, thyme, onions, and tomato paste. Just like in Ireland, British stew is usually made with potatoes that are slow-cooked until they are soft (but not mushy).
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Connoisseurus Veg
3 Portobello Vegan Beef(less) Stew
Portobello mushrooms take the place of beef in this hearty stew from the Connoisseurus Veg. They’re tender, meaty, and delicious when simmered alongside ingredients like red wine, herbs, and Marmite (for umami). I’m all about vegan comfort food recipes this winter,” says recipe developer Alissa Saenz. “This vegan beef stew is super cozy and delicious, and this is coming from someone who didn’t even like beef stew in her omnivore days.”
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Vanessa K. Rees
4 Vegan Boeuf Bourguignon in Red Wine Sauce
Another version of the French classic, this aromatic bourguignon also uses homemade seitan—which is made with ingredients like cremini mushrooms and soy sauce—to get that ultra-beefy texture. The red wine sauce is flavor-packed thanks to the addition of miso, rosemary, thyme, mushrooms, and tomatoes.
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Rabbit and Wolves
5 Hearty Vegan ‘Beef’ and Dumplings
Fluffy dumplings are the perfect addition to a hearty winter stew. In this recipe, they’re combined with vegan beef strips, sweet onion, stout beer, carrots, parsnips, and plenty of herbs. “All cooked in one pot on the stove. It is so easy and comforting,” says recipe developer Lauren Hartmann of Rabbit and Wolves.
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Nora Cooks
6 Vegan Irish Stew
Of course, this vegan Irish stew is made with a thick, hearty Guinness broth. The vegan beef tips bring the perfect meaty texture, while dried herbs, tomato paste, and vegan Worcestershire sauce add to the flavor. “While I wouldn’t call this an authentic Irish stew, the comforting, beefy, and rich flavors are pretty darn close to the original,” notes recipe blog Nora Cooks.
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Plantifully Based
7 Easy Vegan Crockpot ‘Beef’ Stew
This beefless stew all comes together with the help of a crockpot, so there’s no need to spend ages in the kitchen stirring a saucepan. It’s low-effort but has maximum flavor thanks to ingredients like soy sauce, balsamic vinegar, dried rosemary, fresh thyme, and hearty root vegetables. And, for that meaty texture, seitan cubes do the trick.
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Charlotte is a VegNews editor and writer based in sunny Southsea on England’s southern coast.
