I used to call this Parade Stew when I lived in the 'burbs of New Orleans. My kids and I would go to the annual Irish-Italian parade a couple blocks from our house and come home with a large grocery sack of onions, carrots, celery, cabbage, and potatoes.
Many of them went into stews such as this, sometimes made with water, sometimes half water and half V8. I'd add a can of green beans and a can of Green Giant Niblets corn (with the trace of water it's packed in) to the pot at the end, just enough to get warm. [Update: now I only use GreenWise frozen organic corn from Publix.]
Since I don't consume cooked tomatoes much anymore, I later took to adding sweet potatoes to the mix, as you see here. And I am more likely to use fresh green beans these days.
If you don't happen to have a parade that provides the veggies, hop on over to the grocery store and pick up your favorites. Or see what's ready in your garden (or fridge!)
Ingredients:
2 Tablespoons Olive Oil (or Grapeseed Oil - better for high temperatures)
1 medium onion, chopped
2 cloves garlic, chopped (optional)
8 cups water
3 large potatoes, chopped
4 large carrots, chopped
2 large sweet potato, chopped
3 stalks celery, chopped
1/4 large head of cabbage, chopped
1/4 to 1/2# fresh green beans (whole or cut)
1 can Green Giant Niblets corn (or fresh corn, removed from cob) [Update: now I only use GreenWise frozen organic corn from Publix. I avoid GMO foods whenever possible.]
Directions:
Add oil to stock pot and add chopped onions and garlic. Sautee over low to medium heat till softened a bit. Add 8 cups water to pot and bring to a boil. Lower heat and add chopped potatoes and carrots. Simmer for about 10 minutes, then add sweet potatoes, green beans, celery and cabbage. Simmer for another 10 minutes, then add corn [yes, even frozen corn will heat up quickly.] Heat another minute or two, then serve.
Options:
Use V8 in place of half the water
Add cayenne to spice it up
Add some chopped green pepper near the end, or summer squash (or both!)
Add some fresh or dried herbs about half way through the cooking time. Marjoram adds a sweeter flavor, rosemary a lovely aromatic flavor.
