Vegetable slow cooker stew

Autumn is here, and what better recipe than a hearty vegetable slow cooker stew? The best thing about this dish? You can divide it into portions, transfer it to a freezer-safe container and freeze for up to 1 month! To serve, simply defrost overnight before reheating thoroughly. 

Serves: 4

Preparation time: 40 minutes 

If you can, use organic ingredients for this recipe. Although we are unsure whether eating organic food reduces breast cancer risk, organic food contains less pesticide residue. We know that certain pesticides are linked to breast cancer risk, so we recommend eating organic food whenever possible. Read more on pesticides here.
 

Ingredients:  

360g butternut squash, chopped into chunks 

1 onion, peeled and chopped 

250g sweet mini peppers, seeded and halved 

400g cannellini beans in a jar, drained and rinsed or 400g pre-cooked dried cannellini beans (how to cook)

400g passata in a glass jar

10-12 basil leaves, shredded 

400g chickpeas in a jar, drained and rinsed or 400g pre-cooked dried chickpeas (how to cook)

Salt and pepper for seasoning 

Optional: stock cube  

Optional: vegetarian hard cheese or Parmesan 

Instructions

• Put the onion, butternut squash, peppers, beans and chickpeas in the dish in a slow cooker.
• Pour over the passata, sprinkle with half the basil, and season well. Stir.
• Set the slow cooker to low and cook for four hours until the vegetables are soft and tender.
• If you like more sauce, you can add 100ml of vegetable stock.
• Serve sprinkled with the remaining basil and shavings of hard cheese, if you like.

Why this is good for you  

A diet high in fibre has been linked to a decreased breast cancer risk, and it’s good for your gut health too! 

Butternut squash, peppers and tomatoes are good sources of carotenoids, which are substances found in fruits and vegetables that give them their bright red, yellow, orange and purple colours. Carotenoids act as a type of antioxidant, known for their positive health benefits, and may be associated with a reduced risk of breast cancer.   

Enjoyed this Vegetable slow cooker stew recipe and are craving more like this? Breast Cancer UK’s brand new recipe e-book is out now! Download (for free) ‘Organic Flavours’ today. What are you waiting for? Get cooking. 

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