Spiced squash, butter bean and purple sprouting broccoli stew

Now this could make a nice change for your mid-week meal plans ... it's a veggie dish topped with some lovely feta cheese. It's from the Hemsley sisters, Jasmine and Melissa and has also featured in Sainsbury's magazine.

Ingredients:

Serves 6 - amend to suit
1 tbsp ground cumin
1 tbsp ground coriander
1½ tsp smoked paprika
½ tsp crushed chilies
1 tbsp ghee (or butter)
2 large onions, diced

2 tsp fresh thyme or oregano leaves, or 1 tsp dried thyme or oregano
4 garlic cloves, finely chopped
zest and juice of 1 lemon
1 small butternut squash (around 800g), peeled and chopped into 3cm cubes
1 litre homemade chicken stock or good-quality vegetable stock
600g purple sprouting broccoli
3 x 400g tins butter beans, drained
1 large handful of coriander
1 large handful of flat-leaf parsley
100g organic feta cheese, to 
crumble over
extra-virgin olive oil, to serve

Method:

1. Toast the cumin, coriander, paprika and half the crushed chilies in a large dry casserole briefly, stirring, until fragrant.
2. Add the ghee or butter and the onions for 5 minutes until soft, not brown. Add the thyme, garlic and lemon zest for 1 minute more.

3. Add the squash to the pan along with the stock; bring to the boil, then simmer gently for about 10 minutes until the squash is almost tender, add the drained butter beans and season with salt and pepper. Simmer 
for a further 5 minutes.
4. Add the purple sprouting broccoli, cover and simmer for about 10 minutes until tender, then add the lemon juice and half of the coriander and parsley. Spoon into bowls and top each serving with the remaining parsley and coriander, some crumbled feta cheese and a drizzle of extra-virgin olive oil; sprinkle with the remaining crushed chilies.

You can read more about purple sprouting broccoli here - also if you like King prawns cooked in butter, garlic and a mixed herbs seasoning. Accompanied by swede boiled and mashed with lots of butter, and some purple sprouting broccoli, there is a recipe idea to see.

We try and bring a variety of recipe ideas to this blog, and not all may be suitable for you. If you may have any food allergies, or underlying health issues these must always be taken into account. If you are a diabetic and not sure how certain foods may affect your blood sugars, test is best, i.e. use your meter.

Enjoy your day

All the best Jan