Chinese Red-Braised Pork Belly (Hong Shao Rou)
Tender red-braised pork belly in a glossy soy sauce
What makes a stew a stew
A stew is a dish of pieces cooked in liquid until both the main ingredients and the cooking liquid are ready to eat together. It is usually thicker than a soup, but it does not have to be heavy or opaque. What matters is the relationship between solids and sauce: the liquid is seasoned, reduced or lightly thickened so it clings to the spoon and coats the ingredients. Stews can be meat- or vegetable-led, and they can be made on the hob, in the oven, or in an electric cooker. They are distinct from braises mainly by scale and serving style: a braise often centres on one large piece, while a stew is built from bite-sized pieces meant to be shared out evenly.
Top picks in Stew
Lentejas con Chorizo (Spanish Lentil and Chorizo Stew)
Spanish lentil stew simmered with chorizo, tomato and smoked paprika
Feijoada à Portuguesa (Portuguese Bean Stew with Pork and Chorizo)
Portuguese white bean stew with pork belly, chorizo and bacon
Kokkinisto (Greek Beef Stew with Tomato and Red Wine)
Greek beef stew braised in tomato and red wine
Curry Goat
Slow-cooked curry goat with allspice and Scotch bonnet
Bauerntopf (German Minced Beef and Potato Stew)
Minced beef and potato stew in a paprika-tomato broth
Method choices that change the final bowl
Some stews start with browning. Searing meat or vegetables before adding liquid builds a deeper, roasted base and gives the sauce a darker colour. Others begin with sweating aromatics, then simmering gently for a cleaner, lighter profile where herbs and spices stay more prominent. The cooking vessel matters: a wide pot encourages evaporation and a naturally thicker sauce; a tight lid keeps things brothy and can help delicate ingredients stay intact. Thickening can come from reduction alone, from starchy ingredients breaking down, or from a small amount of flour or other starch added early. Each route changes the texture: reduction gives gloss, starch gives body, and flour can make the sauce feel more velvety.
All recipes in Stew
Cajun Chicken Étouffée
Cajun chicken étouffée with dark roux served over rice
Feijoada de Marisco (Portuguese Seafood and White Bean Stew)
Seafood and white bean stew in a tomato and wine broth
Stoofvlees met Friet (Belgian Beef Stew with Chips)
Belgian beef stew with dark beer, served with chips
Vegetable Tagine
Vegetable tagine with chickpeas, tomatoes and dried apricots
Carne con Tomate Andaluza (Andalusian Pork in Tomato Sauce)
Pork simmered in a thick tomato and paprika sauce
Hong Shao Rou (Red-Braised Pork Belly)
Red-braised pork belly simmered until tender and glossy
Spezzatino di Manzo (Italian Beef Stew)
Italian beef stew simmered with tomato, red wine and herbs
Chinese Red-Braised Pork Belly (Hong Shao Rou)
Tender red-braised pork belly in a glossy soy sauce
Tripas à Moda do Porto (Porto-Style Tripe Stew)
Porto-style tripe stew with pork, chorizo and white beans
Beer-Braised Pork Shoulder
Pork shoulder slow-braised in lager with onion and caraway
Bauerntopf (German Minced Beef and Potato Stew)
Minced beef and potato stew in a paprika-tomato broth
Feijoada à Portuguesa (Portuguese Bean Stew with Pork and Chorizo)
Portuguese white bean stew with pork belly, chorizo and bacon
Serving a stew like you meant it
Because the sauce is part of the dish, think about what will catch it. Bread, rice, potatoes, polenta and noodles all do the job, but they change the experience: bread keeps the stew centre-stage; grains and mash turn it into a complete bowl. A bright finish helps, especially with long-cooked flavours. That might be a squeeze of citrus, a spoon of yoghurt, a handful of herbs, or something pickled on the side. If you are serving guests, keep the garnish separate so everyone can adjust. Stews also benefit from a short rest off the heat before serving, when fat rises and flavours settle, making the sauce taste more integrated.
Where to look next
If you want to steer the flavour profile, browse by Cuisine to see how different regions build stews with their own aromatics, spices and staples. For a more technical choice, Cooking method helps you compare stovetop simmering with oven cooking or other approaches that change evaporation, tenderness and sauce texture.
American
Pan-Seared Ribeye Steak with Garlic Butter
Pan-seared ribeye with garlic butter and rocket salad
Italian
Crostini with Ricotta and Sun-Dried Tomatoes
Toasted crostini topped with ricotta and sun-dried tomatoes
Indian
Saag Gosht (Lamb and Mustard Greens Curry)
Lamb curry simmered with mustard greens and spices
Mexican
Vegan Jackfruit Carnitas Tacos
Crispy jackfruit carnitas in warm corn tortillas
Boil
Dulce de Camote (Sweet Potato Paste with Cinnamon)
Sliceable sweet potato paste cooked with sugar and cinnamon
Roast
Golonka Pieczona (Polish Roasted Pork Knuckle)
Polish roasted pork knuckle with marjoram, caraway and mustard
Grill
Grilled Halloumi Skewers with Courgette and Red Pepper
Grilled halloumi skewers with courgette, red pepper and oregano
Roast
Thai Curry Roasted Vegetables
Roasted vegetables coated in red curry and coconut milk
Frequently asked questions
Is a stew always thick?
Not necessarily. Many stews are spoon-coating rather than heavily thickened. The key is that the liquid is meant to be eaten as part of the dish, not just as a cooking medium.
What’s the difference between stew and soup?
Soups are typically more liquid-forward, often served as a broth or purée. Stews usually have larger pieces and a sauce that clings to the ingredients, with a higher ratio of solids to liquid.
Do I have to brown the meat for a stew?
No. Browning adds roasted depth and colour, but a stew can be built around gentle simmering for a cleaner taste where herbs, spices or vegetables lead.
Why did my stew sauce turn watery?
It often comes down to evaporation and starch. A tight lid, a narrow pot, or adding watery vegetables late can keep the liquid thin. Simmering uncovered for part of the cook, or letting starchy ingredients break down, can add body.
Why can stew meat be tough even after a long cook?
Some cuts need enough time at a gentle heat for collagen to convert and soften. If the heat is too high, the meat fibres can tighten and dry before the connective tissue has had time to relax.
Can a stew be vegetable-based and still feel satisfying?
Yes. Body can come from beans, lentils, potatoes, squash or other ingredients that naturally thicken the liquid as they cook, alongside a well-seasoned base.
Choose your stew by the sauce you want
When you are deciding between stews, picture the final spoonful: glossy and reduced, brothy and herb-led, or softly thickened and velvety. That one choice will guide the method, the pot and what you serve alongside.
