![Slow Cooker Lentil Veggie Stew [Clean, Vegan, GF]...And A Dash of Cinnamon](https://i0.wp.com/www.andadashofcinnamon.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/04/Slow-Cooker-Lentil-Veggie-Stew-Clean-Vegan-GF...And-A-Dash-of-Cinnamon.jpg?fit=1542%2C2160&ssl=1)
Have produce that you need to use up, but doesn’t look pretty enough to set out on a veggie tray? Don’t waste it! Cut it up and throw it into your slow cooker for a super easy, clean and filling vegan stew! It takes only a short amount of prep time since you can let your slow cooker do all the work!
![Slow Cooker Lentil Veggie Stew [Clean, Vegan, GF]...And A Dash of Cinnamon](https://i0.wp.com/www.andadashofcinnamon.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/04/Slow-Cooker-Lentil-Veggie-Stew-Clean-Vegan-GF...And-A-Dash-of-Cinnamon-214x300.jpg?resize=293%2C411)
It’s time for April’s recipe redux edition. This month’s theme is as follows:
Easy Ways to Reduce Food Waste
In honor of Earth Day on April 22, we’re challenging ReDux members to show how they reduce food waste. Whatever you would normally toss, use it up. Share tips for reducing food waste in meal planning, prep or using up scraps.
I think this is a FANTASTIC challenge. I cannot believe the food that is wasted on a daily basis and I strive each and everyday to not waste anything. I know that this can be very difficult for a lot of people, but just because your produce is not perfect, doesn’t mean that it cannot be used!
Since I often buy in bulk to cut down on costs, I often have way more than I could use before items go bad. My solution? The freezer. I really wish people made more use of their freezers! I often immediately come home and chop up my produce and stick it in the freezer for later so that I don’t waste anything. Pretty much anything can go in the freezer as well, including produce such as avocado!
As for more than ripe foods that you’ve already got in your fridge, check to see if you can salvage it. Perhaps you just need to cut out a few spots instead of throwing it all away. Have wilted celery? Sure you may not be able to chop it up and eat it in a veggie tray, but throw it into a soup! No one will no the difference. Have carrots that are growing hair, or potatoes that are sprouting? Either take those bits off and still use them, or you can plant them too if you have a garden to make more produce!
Please please please re-consider either when you are buying food at the store, or when you are wanting to throw out an item that may not be perfect any more. It can very likely still be used in some shape or form.
This recipe is great if you have old carrots, celery, even onions and tomatoes (if you’ve got fresh). You can even use the celery leaves in this one to cut even further down on waste. After it is done, feel free to separate it into individual freezer safe bowls to stick into the freezer for later. Perfect to pull out for lunch, or if you need dinner in a pinch. Click on the link below to check out how some of the other reduxer’s are cutting down on food waste.
![Slow Cooker Lentil Veggie Stew [Clean, Vegan, GF]...And A Dash of Cinnamon](https://i0.wp.com/www.andadashofcinnamon.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/04/Slow-Cooker-Lentil-Veggie-Stew-Clean-Vegan-GF...And-A-Dash-of-Cinnamon.jpg?resize=150%2C150&ssl=1)
Slow Cooker Lentil Veggie Stew [Clean, Vegan, GF]
Ingredients
- 1 cup lentils
- 1-2 carrots diced
- 5 stalks celery diced
- 1 can no salt added tomatoes OR 4 large tomatoes diced
- 1/2-1 onion diced
- 1/2 T oregano
- 1 bay leaf
- 1 t basil
- 1/2 t paprika
- 2-3 cans water/stock of choice
Instructions
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Dice all of your produce
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Add all ingredients to a slow cooker and then add in 2-3 cans of water (if using canned diced tomatoes or ~2 cups of liquid either water or stock of choice)
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Cook on high for 4-6 hours or on low for ~8-10 or until lentils are cooked through and veggies are soft.
I link up with Deborah and Sarah’s, and The Fit Foodie Mama’s Meatless Monday, #recipeoftheweek,Homestead Blog Hop, glutenfreefridays, #healthyveganfridays, What’s for Dinner, Sunday Fitness and Food, GraciousPantry, Kriska Marie
![Chocolate Chip Sweet Potato Protein Cookies [Clean, Vegan, GF, Paleo]...And A Dash of Cinnamon Close](https://i0.wp.com/www.andadashofcinnamon.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/Chocolate-Chip-Sweet-Potato-Protein-Cookies-Clean-Vegan-GF-Paleo...And-A-Dash-of-Cinnamon-Close-scaled.jpg?fit=2560%2C1418&ssl=1)
Love the idea! Thank you for sharing it on Food Friday! 😀
Thanks!
Sorry it took so long to visit – I’ve been off on vacation! Thanks for sharing on the What’s for Dinner link up!
No worries! Thanks for visiting! Where did you go on Vacation?!
Sorry it took so long to visit – I’ve been off on vacation!
The veggie stew sounds really good! Filled with so many great things and so much flavour.
And what great tips on not wasting! I’ve been really getting in the habit of freezing leftover fruit & veggies too. And at the end of the week each week, we have “leftovers” stirfry where I just toss all of the old veggies from the previous week together in a big stirfry. It works pretty well.
Thank you! I think freezers are way underused in the attempt to reduce food waste. I’m so glad to hear that you are freezing your fruits and veggies! I also think that leftover stir fry you do is so perfect!
Stew is a great way to reduce food waste! And it’s so easy to make!
For sure!
I love everything about this! Slow cooker stews are my jam 🙂
I agree! Slow cookers are so awesome, people who don’t use them are totally missing out
I love a good lentil stew. And I love it even more when I have some stashed in the freezer for emergency food. I always thank my former self for being so thoughtful! x
Ha! I love that last line! I should thank myself for that as well! I usually make all my meals, but man is it nice to have a meal already prepared when you need it
i love making stews like this on a regular basis..makes a filling lunch/dinner plus so inexpensive.
I agree! It for sure makes eating healthy on a budget realistic!
Such a great way to use up veggies! This would hit the spot after a nice weekend we have a really cold Monday. Thank you for linking up with us, happy Meatless Monday!
We had a really cold weekend here as well. It’s perfect for throwing in random veggies that you have to use up. I hope you are able to warm up your Monday with something like this!
Great recipe! My husand was just complaining to me that I never make lentils. He will LOVE this dish.
Perfect!! It’s super easy too! I love it when the slow cooker can do most of the work for you 🙂
Pinning this one- love this for lunch all week!
That’s exactly how I did it! Had lunch for all week ha! It was perfect. (I never had time to heat it up during the week, so I can vouch that I even enjoyed it cold)
Great way to use up what you have in the house. We had another cold rainy day and I was thinking about chili myself
Oh I love chili! Either would be great for a cold day!
It’s been a while since I’ve used the slow cooker to make stew – this looks delicious!
Time to bust it out! I love my slow cooker, but it had been a while since I had used it too.
Yay for lentil stew! :] It’s such an awesome comfort-food type recipe, especially when it’s still cold outside!
Yes! I agree.
Soup is a great way to use up veggies that are past their prime, and I love lentil soup as well!
I agree! I love how forgiving soups and stews are so that you can really use up whatever you need to in your fridge
I love this! I hate wasting food and throwing in a dish like this is a great use for things on there last legs!
I agree! Soups and stews are excellent ways to use things that can’t quite make the raw cut.
Great idea on cutting food waste – and it looks so delicious too!
Thanks so much for linking up with us for Healthy Vegan Fridays! I’m Pinning and sharing!
Thanks so much!