Cranberry Herb Vegetable Stew

Mediterranean one-pot cooking thrives on olive oil, garden herbs, and slow-simmered vegetables. Fresh cranberries and sage give this chickpea stew a bright tart lift beside sweet potato and thyme.

Serves 6 · 20 min prep · 40 min cook

Estimate for one serving

• 245 cal
• 9g protein
• 42g carbs
• 6g fat
• 3g fiber

Every recipe here is free to read.

Ingredients

• 2 tbsp olive oil
• 1 large yellow onion
• 3 medium carrots
• 2 celery stalks
• 1 large (about 12 oz) sweet potato
• 4 garlic cloves
• 8 fresh sage leaves
• 4 fresh thyme sprigs
• 5 cups vegetable broth
• 14 oz canned diced tomatoes
• 1 cup fresh cranberries
• 1½ cups cooked chickpeas
• 4 cups baby spinach
• 1¼ tsp kosher salt
• ¾ tsp black pepper
• 2 tbsp lemon juice
• ¼ cup chopped fresh parsley

Instructions

1. 1Warm the olive oil in a heavy Dutch oven or large soup pot over medium heat until it shimmers.
2. 2Dice the onion, carrots, and celery into even bite-size pieces and add them to the pot; cook 6 to 8 minutes, stirring occasionally, until the onion turns translucent and the edges begin to soften.
3. 3Stir in minced garlic, chopped sage, and stripped thyme leaves; cook 60 to 90 seconds until the kitchen smells deeply herbal and the garlic is fragrant but not browned.
4. 4Add cubed sweet potato, drained chickpeas, diced tomatoes with their juices, and the vegetable broth; season with salt and pepper and bring everything to a gentle boil.
5. 5Reduce heat to maintain a steady simmer, partially cover, and cook 18 to 22 minutes until the sweet potato is fork-tender and the broth has taken on a rich autumn color.
6. 6Stir in the fresh cranberries and continue simmering uncovered 6 to 8 minutes so the berries soften, some burst, and their tart juices brighten the stew.
7. 7Fold in the baby spinach by the handful until it just wilts into the hot liquid, about 1 to 2 minutes; the greens should stay vivid.
8. 8Remove the pot from heat, squeeze in the lemon juice, and taste for seasoning, adding a pinch more salt if the cranberries make it too sharp.
9. 9Ladle into warm bowls, top each serving with a generous sprinkle of chopped parsley, and serve with crusty bread if desired for a complete vegetable-centered dinner.