Vegetable Tagine
Vegetable tagine with chickpeas, tomatoes and dried apricots
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
Espinacas con Garbanzos Sevillanas (Seville-Style Spinach and Chickpeas)
Spinach and chickpeas simmered with cumin, paprika and tomato
Rape a la Marinera (Spanish Monkfish in Tomato and Saffron Sauce)
Spanish monkfish simmered in tomato, white wine and saffron sauce
Feijoada de Marisco (Portuguese Seafood and White Bean Stew)
Seafood and white bean stew in a tomato and wine broth
Carne con Tomate Andaluza (Andalusian Pork in Tomato Sauce)
Pork simmered in a thick tomato and paprika sauce
Seco de Pollo (Ecuadorian Chicken Braised with Beer and Tomato)
Ecuadorian chicken braised with beer, tomato, peppers and coriander
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
Pollo en Salsa de Tamarindo (Tamarind Chicken)
Chicken thighs in tamarind and chipotle sauce with lime
Middle Eastern Lamb and Chickpea Stew
Slow-simmered lamb and chickpea stew in a spiced tomato sauce
Chicken Tagine with Preserved Lemon and Green Olives
Chicken tagine with preserved lemon, olives and warm spices
Couscous with Seven Vegetables (Moroccan)
Steamed couscous topped with spiced vegetables and chickpeas
Holiday Picadillo (Sweet and Savoury Minced Beef Stew)
Minced beef picadillo with tomatoes, olives and raisins
Picadillo (Minced Beef Stew)
Minced beef stew with tomatoes, peppers and onions
Cá Kho Tộ (Caramelised Fish Braise)
Caramelised fish braise served with jasmine rice
Dal Makhani (Creamy Black Lentil Curry)
Creamy black lentil curry finished with butter and double cream
Kjøttboller i Brunsaus (Beef Meatballs in Brown Gravy)
Beef meatballs in brown gravy with boiled potatoes
Grilled Vegetable Cataplana (Algarve-Style Stew)
Algarve-style vegetable stew with grilled peppers and courgettes
Hachee Met Rodekool (Dutch Beef and Onion Stew with Red Cabbage)
Dutch beef and onion stew served with red cabbage and potatoes
Pollo alla Cacciatora (Modern Light Version)
Chicken thighs simmered in tomato and red wine sauce
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
Nordic
Karjalanpaisti (Finnish Beef and Pork Hot Pot)
Finnish beef and pork hot pot with onions and bay
Spanish
Rabo de Toro Estofado (Braised Oxtail Stew)
Braised oxtail stew with red wine and vegetables
Marinated
Jeyuk Bokkeum (Spicy Pork Stir-Fry)
Spicy gochujang pork stir-fry with onion
Simmer
Kavourmas (Greek Cured Pork)
Greek cured pork set under its own fat
Bake
Enchiladas Navideñas (Chicken Enchiladas with Red and Green Sauces)
Chicken enchiladas baked with red and green chilli sauces
Boil
Thai Green Curry Bowl with Chicken and Jasmine Rice
Thai green curry chicken bowl with jasmine rice
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.
