Somerset Stew with Herby Oat Dumplings
by Katy Beskow
Beautiful Somerset in southwest England is famed for all things delicious, including apples, cider and tangy Cheddar cheese, to which you can now find great vegan alternatives. This is the ultimate autumn casserole, with butterbeans, apples, rosemary – and cider, of course. Oats give a homely flavour to the dumplings, which make the perfect topping to this comforting stew.
Method
Based on 4 servings, adjust as needed.
Step 1
To make the dumplings, add the flour, vegetable suet, oats and chopped parsley to a bowl. Season with a pinch of salt and plenty of pepper, then stir to combine. Gradually add 6 tablespoons cold water (if cooking for 4), bringing the mix together after each tablespoon to form a thick dough. Add a little extra water if needed, but the mix shouldn’t be sticky. Use your hands to roll the mixture into 8 dumplings, then place them onto a plate and refrigerate until required.
Step 2
Add the oil, chopped leek, chopped carrots and sage to a lidded hob-to-oven casserole dish and cook for 4–5 minutes over a medium heat until fragrant.
Step 3
Pour in the cider and cook for another 2 minutes, then stir in the tinned chopped tomatoes, drained butterbeans and hot stock. Finally, add the rosemary sprig. Bring to the boil, then add the apple slices. Simmer for 30 minutes, then remove from the heat. Discard the rosemary and season with salt and pepper.
Step 4
Meanwhile, preheat the oven to 180°C/350°F/gas mark 4. Lay the dumplings over the top of the stew and add the lid. Bake in the oven for 30–35 minutes until the dumplings have increased in size and the casserole is bubbling. Carefully remove the lid, then scatter the cheese over the dumplings. Return to the oven without the lid for a further 10–15 minutes until the cheese has melted and the dumplings are golden.
- Ingredients
- Based on 4 servings
-
1tbsp Sunflower Oil 1x Sainsbury's Sunflower Oil 3L -
Maldon Salt, to taste 1x Maldon Sea Salt Flakes 250g -
70g Vegetable Suet 1x Atora Shredded Vegetable Suet 200g -
50g Rolled Oats 1x Sainsbury's Scottish Porridge Oats 1kg -
30g Flat Leaf Parsley, finely chopped 1x Sainsbury's Fresh Packed Flat Leaf Parsley 30g -
1 Leek, finely chopped 1x Sainsbury's Leeks Loose -
2 Carrots, peeled and sliced into half rounds 2x Sainsbury’s Carrots Loose -
1tsp Dried Sage 1x Sainsbury's Sage 13g -
400g Chopped Tomatoes, good quality 1x Sainsbury's Chopped Tomatoes Can 400g -
100g Cheddar Style Vegan Cheese, grated 1x Cathedral City Plant Based Mature Cheddar Cheese Flavour Vegan Grated 150g -
2 Tins Butter beans, drained and rinsed 2x Sainsbury's Butter Beans In Water 400g (235g*) -
200ml Cider, good-quality, ensure vegan 1x Sainsbury's Medium Dry 0.9% Low Alcohol Apple Cider 500ml -
300ml Vegetable Stock, hot 1x Sainsbury's Stock Cubes, Vegetable 10x10g -
100g Self Raising Flour 1x Sainsbury's Self Raising Flour 500g -
1 sprig Fresh Rosemary 1x Sainsbury's Fresh Packed Rosemary 20g -
2 Apples, thickly sliced 2x Sainsbury's Braeburn Apple Single