Ghiveci---Romanian Vegetable Stew

Name: Ghiveci---Romanian Vegetable Stew
Prep time: 45 min
Cook time: 45 min
Total time: 1 h 30 min
Yield: 6-8 serving(s)
Ingredients: 2 large onions, chopped; 4 -5 medium carrots, peeled and sliced; 3 -4 medium bell peppers, seeded and chopped (any color); 3 garlic cloves, minced; 2 tablespoons vegetable oil (I use olive oil.); 1 small cabbage, sliced thinly; 3 fresh tomatoes, peeled and chopped or 1 (14 ounce) can tomatoes, chopped and juices reserved; 2 cups water; 3 -4 medium potatoes, peeled and chopped; 1 (12 ounce) package frozen peas; 1/2 teaspoon thyme; 2 tablespoons fresh dill, minced; 2 tablespoons fresh parsley, minced; 1/2 lemon, juice of; 1 -2 teaspoon paprika; salt; pepper; 1 large eggplant (cubed, salted, and rinsed); 1 large zucchini (sliced); 1 small head cauliflower (broken into flowerets); 1 kohlrabi (peeled and cubed)

Submitted by Transylmania

"This is my favorite Romanian dish. It is popular in summer and during Ortodox lent, when hen you can't eat meat. The recipe can vary a lot....in the late summer people put in eggplant sometimes, in the earlier summer zucchini. Use what is best for the season. Make sure to follow the cooking order so that nothing gets too mushy. Serve this with rice. Some people even add a bit of rice towards the end of the cooking time."

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photo by Daniela R.

Ready In:: 1hr 30mins
Ingredients:: 21
Serves:: 6-8

ingredients

2 large onions, chopped
4 -5 medium carrots, peeled and sliced
3 -4 medium bell peppers, seeded and chopped (any color)
3 garlic cloves, minced
2 tablespoons vegetable oil (I use olive oil.)
1 small cabbage, sliced thinly
1 fresh tomatoes, peeled and chopped or (14 ounce) can tomatoes, chopped and juices reserved
2 cups water
3 -4 medium potatoes, peeled and chopped
1 (12 ounce) package frozen peas
¹⁄₂ teaspoon thyme
2 tablespoons fresh dill, minced
2 tablespoons fresh parsley, minced
¹⁄₂ lemon, juice of
1 -2 teaspoon paprika
salt
pepper
Optional seasonal veggies
1 large eggplant (cubed, salted, and rinsed)
1 large zucchini (sliced)
1 small head cauliflower (broken into flowerets)
1 kohlrabi (peeled and cubed)

directions

Heat the oil in a large stewpot or Dutch oven.
Add the onion, carrots, and peppers. Saute over medium heat until onions are transparent. (About 5 minutes).
Add garlic, potatoes, and cabbage. If using kohlrabi add it now. Saute for about 3 minutes.
Add water and tomatoes, salt and pepper, and thyme and paprika. Bring to a boil.
Cover and simmer for about 15 minutes, or until the potatoes are almost tender.
Add the other optional veggies (eggplant etc.) of your choice. Return to a boil, cover and simmer.
Simmer, covered for about 20 more minutes or until the vegetables are soft and flavors have blended.
Add frozen peas, fresh herbs, and lemon juice. Cook for five minutes with the cover on.
Serve hot with rice. This is a treat!

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Reviews

I left out the dill - not everyone in my family likes it - and the cabbage. Made it with eggplant and zucchini. One tablespoon tomato paste will kick it up a bit. Great recipe.

littlemafia
I love how this recipe uses a variety of vegetables. It was a little bland for my family, but we also eat thai chili peppers raw so I kicked it up a bit with cayenne and drizzled a little olive oil over it. Very nice. My kids even loved eating all of the vegetables in this dish. Thanks for posting. I'll definitely make this again.

Jacqueline Michelle
I love this recipe! It's very easy to follow, and a perfect summer meal. It turned out great! It was my first time trying it( even though I am Romanian :-) and I must say it IS a treat. I made a small ajustment to suit our tastes better , which could be an options to others too. - substitute the frozen peas with fresh beans if they are available ( it gives it even more flavour , and more colour) Thank you!
Daniela R.
We liked this. It needed a bit more spicing up for our tastes, but the combination of herbs plus lemon was a nice change. It is a good way to use up leftover winter vegetables. I will make this again. <br/>Update to review: I served the leftovers last night, having added some tomato sauce, as reviewers suggested, and some additional herbs and lemon. With those changes DH said "I could eat this 3 times a week." So I guess I will be making this again!

alvinakatz
I thought this was okay. Nothing special. I subbed turnip for kohlrabi. I also used the eggplant and the zucchini, and threw in a small amount of tomato sauce. I'll have to try the cayenne suggested by another reviewer. Also, if this makes six servings, they must be giant servings! I could have fed at least 12 people.

windhorse23

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Tweaks

I thought this was okay. Nothing special. I subbed turnip for kohlrabi. I also used the eggplant and the zucchini, and threw in a small amount of tomato sauce. I'll have to try the cayenne suggested by another reviewer. Also, if this makes six servings, they must be giant servings! I could have fed at least 12 people.

windhorse23