We suggest you do this in stages, slowly, and go as far as works for your family, here’s how your final recipe might come together…

Method:

1. Brown the meat/veggie alternative (try using less and adding in some extra protein from pulses like beans or lentils) – fry in a little oil until lightly browned all over. Add the veg, if using, and cook a few more mins until softening, stirring through a tablespoon or two of flour if you like to help the stew thicken nicely. Pour over enough stock or sauce to cover (and herbs, if using). Turn the heat up until your stew is bubbling. A bag of casserole veg – (fresh or frozen) will do just fine here, but if you want to choose your own, great choices include: fresh or frozen diced root veggies, fresh or frozen diced butternut squash, chopped or sliced courgette or aubergine (or frozen Mediterranean veg), diced peppers, diced onions, sliced mushrooms, tinned or frozen sweetcorn, frozen peas, leafy greens like spinach or kale… Add frozen veg or leafy greens for the last bit of cooking – check packages for cooking times.

2. Turn the heat back down to simmer the stew, covered with a lid, for 30 mins-3 hours (check cooking instructions for your choice of meat – diced meat will usually take closer to 30 mins, but bigger pieces of meat or ones that do best being cooked low and slow can take several hours), until everything is cooked through and soft (slow-cooked meats will pull apart when you check them), checking occasionally and stirring, even adding extra stock or sauce if needed to stop it sticking.

3. For a casserole, instead of simmering on the stove, preheat the oven to 180C/gas 4 while you are bringing the stew to the boil, then cover the (ovenproof) pan with a lid and pop in the oven for 1-3 hours or until ready.

4. If your stew/casserole looks too dry when you check on it, add more stock and/or sauce. If it looks too thin at the end, then mix 1 tbsp cornflour with 1 tbsp water in a bowl and stir in a few spoonfuls of the stew, then add it into the pan and cook for another 5-10 mins uncovered, stirring regularly, until thickened. A few mins before serving, add any frozen veg or leafy greens and a tin of beans, chickpeas or lentils (any work in a stew). Heat through and serve.