There are few things more comforting or satisfying than a hearty bowl of flavourful stew – and there are few people more knowledgeable about what makes a great stew than food creator Xavier Bramble, known to his many followers as the “CEO of stews”.
With his debut cookbook, aptly named Stews, Xavier has created over 80 incredible one-pot stews – plus side dishes and spices – reflecting different cuisines, flavours, and cooking techniques from around the world, many of them inspired by his own travels. Alongside details about where each stew originated from, you’ll find helpful symbols that indicate whether recipes are super-speedy, worth the wait, perfect for weekend cooking projects, or require specific ingredients to source in your next food shop.
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To give you a flavour of what you’ll find inside, we’ve rounded up 10 of our favourite must-try recipes.
Beef Bourguignon
A classic of French cuisine, this rich stew flavoured with red wine, thyme, rosemary, and a finish of sweet pearl onions, sees pieces of beef shin cooked down until they are melt-in-the-mouth tender. Serve on a bed of fluffy mash or boiled potatoes for the ultimate bowl of comfort food.
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Stews: One-Pot Comfort Food From Around The World
Miso, Fennel & Squash Stew
Umami and subtly earthy flavours come together beautifully in this Japanese-inspired stew – and tender pieces of squash (or pumpkin) make it the perfect seasonal warmer in the months of autumn and early winter.
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Stews: One-Pot Comfort Food From Around The World
Jackfruit & Tarragon
Taking inspiration from some of the fragrant, tangy, and sweet staple ingredients found in Georgian and Persian cuisine, this vegan dish uses meaty shredded jackfruit and adzuki beans to create something that is hearty and filling.
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Stews: One-Pot Comfort Food From Around The World
Arroz de Marisco
Xavier picked up this recipe while living in Portugal – a medley of seafood, herbs, paprika and Carolino rice in a deliciously moreish brothy rice dish.
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Stews: One-Pot Comfort Food From Around The World
Feijoada
Pork belly, pork ribs, Brazilian carne seca (dried beef) and linguiça calabresa sausages form the basis for this intensely flavoured meat stew, rounded out with the subtle earthiness of black beans and best served with fresh orange slices.
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Stews: One-Pot Comfort Food From Around The World
Brown Stew Lamb
Lightly brown some sugar in the pan before adding pieces of overnight-marinated lamb. A common cooking method in Jamaican cuisine, this results in an incredibly rich depth of flavour where savoury, spicy, and caramelised elements all come together.
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Stews: One-Pot Comfort Food From Around The World
Garbanzos Español
Chickpeas are simmered in a smoky mix of tomato, chorizo, paprika, and red pepper sauce, and finished with garlic and toasted breadcrumbs for added richness. What’s more, this recipe can easily be adapted for vegetarians by leaving out the chorizo.
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Stews: One-Pot Comfort Food From Around The World
Gulai Ayum
Tender, fall-off-the-bone meat and a lip-smacking blend of spices and aromatics are what make this chicken curry, inspired by those widely found in Indonesia and Malaysia, a worthy dinner centrepiece.
Discover more authentic Malaysian and Indonesian recipes here.
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Stews: One-Pot Comfort Food From Around The World
Leftover Turkey Stew
Forget Turkey sandwiches: this creamy dish is the perfect way to use up (and transform) even the driest of leftover white meat so that it’s tender and flavoursome.
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Stews: One-Pot Comfort Food From Around The World
Cioppino
Light yet flavour-packed, Xavier’s take on an Italian-American classic sees prawns and white fish cooked in a tomato, white wine, and herb sauce. Best served with herby garlic bread.
