Jools Simple Chicken Veg Stew Recipes

JOOLS'S FAVOURITE BEEF STEW

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 160ºC/300ºF/gas 2.
• Peel and roughly chop the onion, peel and quarter the parsnips and peel and halve the carrots. Deseed and roughly dice the squash, and peel and halve the Jerusalem artichokes (if using). Pick the sage leaves.
• Heat a little oil and the butter in a casserole pan on a medium heat, add the onion and sage leaves, then fry for 3 to 4 minutes.
• Meanwhile, toss the meat in a little seasoned flour, then add it to the pan with all the vegetables, the tomato purée, wine and stock, then gently stir together. Season generously with black pepper and just a little sea salt.
• Bring to the boil, place a lid on top, then place in the oven until the meat is tender - sometimes this takes 3 hours, sometimes 4 - it depends on what cut of meat you're using and how fresh it is. The only way to test is to mash up a piece of meat and if it falls apart easily it's ready.
• Once cooked, turn the oven down to about 110°C/225°F/gas ¼ and just hold it there until you're ready to eat.
• The best way to serve this is by ladling big spoonfuls into bowls, accompanied by a glass of French red wine and some really fresh, warmed bread.
• Finely grate the lemon zest, pick and finely chop the rosemary and peel and finely chop the garlic, then mix together and sprinkle over the stew before serving. Just the smallest amount will make a world of difference - as soon as it hits the hot stew it will release an amazing fragrance.

JOOLS' SIMPLE CHICKEN & VEG STEW

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 180ºC/350ºC/gas 5.
• Trim, wash and slice the leeks 1cm thick, scrub and cut the carrots into rough chunks and finely slice the celery. Peel and finely slice the garlic, pick the thyme leaves, discarding the stalks, and finely slice the bacon.
• Heat a lug of oil in a large casserole pan on a medium heat, then add the bacon. Scatter in the thyme leaves and fry for a few minutes, or until the bacon is golden.
• Next, add the leeks, carrots, celery and garlic and cook for around 10 minutes, or until the leeks start to soften, stirring regularly. Meanwhile, peel and roughly chop the celeriac and parsnips, then roughly chop the potatoes.
• Add the chicken, celeriac, parsnips and potatoes to the pan. Stir in the Marmite, add a good grinding of black pepper and stir to coat.
• Pour in the hot stock, bring to the boil, then turn the heat down to low. Crumple up and wet a piece of greaseproof paper, then open it out and place on top of the stew. Cover with a lid and pop in the oven for 1 hour, or until the chicken is super-tender.
• When the time's up, gently break the chicken up into the stew, then serve up in bowls. I like to serve this with broccoli on the side. Sometimes I top it with puff pastry or I stir it through pasta for a really tasty sauce.

JOOLS' WHOLESOME VEG & BEAN SOUP

Steps:

• Start by prepping the base of your soup: trim and very finely slice the celery, peel and roughly chop the carrots and trim, wash and roughly chop the leeks. Peel and very finely slice the garlic, then pick and finely chop the rosemary. Finely slice the bacon.
• Drizzle 1 tablespoon of oil into a large pan on a medium heat, then add the rosemary and bacon. Fry for a few minutes, or until the bacon is just turning golden, then add the chopped celery, carrots, leeks and garlic. Cook gently for around 15 minutes, or until soft, stirring regularly.
• Add the beans (there's no need to drain them) and stock. Bring to the boil, then reduce to a simmer for 30 minutes - add a little more stock or water if you think it needs it.
• Finally, add the spinach or kale and the peas and cook for a further 3 minutes, or until the greens are cooked but still a vibrant green. Have a taste and season with sea salt and black pepper, if needed, then tuck in.