CrockPot Bean Stew Recipe


Day 311.

This could be vegetarian if I had vegetable broth in the house. I did not, so I used chicken broth.

My back is not feeling the best, due to a bend-and-hug that turned into a hug-and-hang. I'm typing this standing up. Every movement is taking more effort than I want, and I'm a wee bit cranky.

I didn't make it the store, and needed to make due with stuff we had in the house. I was certain that I had a bag of green lentils in the pantry, and was totally bummed to realize that the bag actually was filled with split peas. I used them anyway.

The Ingredients.

--2 cups split peas (or lentils!)
--6 cups broth
--1 can kidney beans, rinsed
--1 can black beans, rinsed
--1 potato, chopped
--1 yellow bell pepper, cored, seeded, and chopped
--4 sad looking green onions, chopped
--3 vine-ripened tomatoes, chopped
--1 cub baby carrots
--handful of broccoli (or other veggies you have lying around)
--1 tsp dill (to be different!)
--1 tsp kosher salt
--1/2 tsp black pepper
--1 1/2 tsp paprika


The Directions.

I used a 6 quart crockpot.

Chop up the vegetables to desired size, and throw them in the pot. Rinse the beans, and add. Add the split peas. Cover with broth, and stir in the spices.

Cook on low for 7-9 hours, or on high for 4-5. Soup tastes better the longer it cooks.

The Verdict.

I had read somewhere that dill enhanced soups and stews and it was an under-utilized spice. I threw some in, and immediately regretted it, but decided to climb back in bed with the heating pad hope for the best.

I think the dill works. It tastes too strong if the broth isn't salty enough---so salt and pepper to taste.

Then you can eat it without feeling like you're eating the guinea pigs alfalfa hay.

My kids fished out the stuff they liked, but mostly ate Toquitos for dinner.

I had Advil.

I'm going to have a big bowl for lunch.

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Posted by: Stephanie O'Dea | A Year of Slow Cooking at November 06, 2008

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What they say about this article

  1. Anonymous11/06/2008

    Aw I hope your back feels better. One time I was making the bed and I lifted the mattress to fix the sheets and threw my back out :( I had to lay on the floor for a couple of hours until someone got home to help me up... :(

    The soup sounds good though!

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  2. Hope your back heals quickly. That is such a terrible pain!

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  3. Ah, the dreaded hug-and-hang! Yeeouwch! I feel for you, dear!

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  4. It sounds like a big bowl for lunch is exactly what you need (especially if it's a rainy day by you like it is here!)

    Hope your back feels better. Let Adam lift the heavy crock pots!

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  5. Anonymous11/06/2008

    Oh, I hope your back feels better. My hubby has had major back issues since June so I understand how you feel! I hope you feel better soon!

    I tried chicken sausage gumbo in the crock the other night. Not bad but next time I leave the rice out while cooking. Looks like oatmeal with red & green flecks. Weirdness!

    TAke some meds & feel better soon!

    Kim in WI

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  6. I certainly hope you get to feeling better soon(!), but I must tell you that your post made me laugh loud! You have such a wonderful way with words. :-) And thanks for taking the time to keep your resolution all year long. Thanks to you, I've developed a budding romance with my crockpot. :-)

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  7. The hang and hug is the worst. My 2 girls are about the same ages as your two. My 6 year old seems mostly over it. Thanks goodness since she weighs a ton but the 3 1/2 year old thinks it's fantastic. I never knew that I could have a sore back in my 30's, then I had kids... I hope you feel better, I know that pain, it's not fun and the kids don't cut you any slack bacause you don't feel good. Rest up and give yourself a break. Peach Betty in the crockpot maybe or packaged brownies in the crock pot? Feel better!

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  8. We like oregano in our bean soups, but I might have to try a bit of dill, now. Hope your back feels better soon!

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  9. Anonymous11/06/2008

    Oh no, back pain is never fun. Hope you have a good chiropractor! I'm a massage therapist, but would try a good adjustment first.
    Anyways hope you feel better! Oh and try some ice packs in between the heat sessions! :)

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  10. That sounds good and with winter coming quickly...we could all use more soups to try! Get better soon!

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  11. Anonymous11/06/2008

    Sorry about your back, hope it heals quickly! Back pain is the worst! :(

    I must say, I love using dill, but mainly on potato dishes and in the oyster cracker snack mix. I have a container I mixed dried parsley, dill and dried cilantro in to use in potato dishes, soups and casseroles. It is also good on chicken with lemon pepper, lemon juice and garlic italian marinade (or zesty italian dressing) in the crock!

    The soup sounds tasty!

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  12. Anonymous11/06/2008

    truly sorry about your back, crockpot lady...that's a crock! but the hug was probably worth it, no?

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  13. Sorry to hear about your back! Much empathy here :(

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  14. So sorry to hear about your back. sending out BIG get well wishes...so that you can get happily back to your wonderful dishes!
    Thanks for being a LIFESAVER!
    off to make one of your Autumn Sausage Cassarole now...

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  15. I think that Savory is the most under-used spice. I use it in place of sage, in the same measurements. Goes great with poultry and pork. Sorry to hear you are under the weather.

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  16. This looks YUMMY! I hope you feel better soon!

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  17. Oh, the "hug-and-hang!" Thanks for giving a name to this treacherous back breaker. As another with a fickle back, I hope you feel better soon. Ice packs, exercises and a decent chriopractor has usually been helpful for me.

    And way to get dinner on despite it all - You deserve a medal!

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  18. I just happened upon this blog and as a Mom to 5 children I am SOO excited!!!! Your recipes are fantastic!!!! Hooray!!!

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  19. Anonymous11/07/2008

    Split peas and lentils have been staples in my kitchen for ages. Thanks for another good recipe. - Margaret

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  20. Anonymous11/08/2008

    LOVE the blog!

    Here's my favorite lentil stew recipe for when you actually do have lentils in the house :)

    Ingredients:
    1 bag of lentils (I think it was a pound?)
    4 cups (one carton) chicken stock (low sodium, or use less salt)
    4 cups water
    3 stalks of celery, diced
    2-3 carrots, diced
    2 onions, diced
    2 cloves garlic, minced
    1 1/2 tsp salt (more or less to taste)
    Fresh ground black pepper
    1 tsp dried parsley
    1 tsp dried oregano
    1 tsp dried basil
    1/2 tsp of garlic powder
    largish pinch of red pepper flakes (more or less to taste)

    Directions: Throw everything into the crock, and stir. Cook on low for 10 hours or so. Near the end of the cooking time, give it a stir and add more water or broth if you want it soupier.

    Crumble some turkey bacon on type. I like mine with sour cream, my husband likes his with shredded cheddar and hot sauce.

    Enjoy!

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  21. We are going to try this recipe today, I was so happy to come upon this blog! We are always so busy and use the crockpot alot, but I get tired of beef stew and chili!

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  22. hope your back is better! when i got to the part about the 'sad looking green onions' i couldn't help but laugh. my husband thought i was losing my mind. lol

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  23. I just wanted to tell you how much I loved this stew! My version of it anyway- I did like you and just used what I had in the house- (1 can of black beans, 1 can of garbanzo beans, 1 cup of yellow split peas and 1 cup of lentils) I didn't have any veggies on hand so I just used an extra couple of potatoes. I skipped the dill and added 1 envelope of good seasons dry Italian dressing mix. So good! Esp. with a little shredded pepper jack on top. :)

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  24. What would you recommend for the equivalent if using dry beans for the lentils, 1 can kidney beans, 1 can black beans? And would I need to add extra liquid?

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