Have you ever heard the advice to “eat the rainbow” for optimal health?  With all the goodness of disease-preventing phytonutrients and antioxidants that colorful fruits and veggies provide, it really is sound advice.  And that’s one of the reasons why I love this hearty Venison Rainbow Stew so much.  It’s one of the most colorful meals in my dinner rotation, and the best part is everyone loves it.  It’s aptly named because it hits almost every color of the rainbow, minus the blue/purple category.  There aren’t as many easy vegetable options for that color, but if you’re up for throwing in some purple potatoes, this recipe would meet the need for every color.  Now that is a power-packed meal!

My husband is a hunter, so we do make this soup with venison meat.  However, if that weirds you out or you simply don’t have access to venison, it’s an easy switch to beef.  I will admit that this soup requires a lot of chopping and dicing, so you’ll need to make sure you have time to get that done.  My husband and I like to work on it together after he arrives home, which makes the prep work faster and we get to enjoy each other’s company.  And when he’s not available, a couple of my kids also love helping to chop veggies or brown the meat.  Many hands make light work!

If you won’t be home in time to get this soup prepared, it could very easily convert to a slow cooker meal.  I would brown the meat, and then put all the ingredients (minus dairy) into the crockpot on low, until the potatoes are cooked through.

We are dairy eaters, so my version of this recipe includes heavy cream and shredded cheddar cheese.  However, the dairy could easily be switched out for your favorite non-dairy substitute or simply be omitted all together.  The stew really doesn’t need the dairy, but we love the creaminess it provides.

A quick note – dairy is something for which I always splurge on the organic/local farm options.  I realize eating all organic creates a heavy grocery budget, but unwanted hormones and glyphosate, as well as unhealthy (sick) livestock living conditions make me spring for organic dairy whenever possible.  It’s one of the food categories on which I’m unwilling to compromise, unless there truly is no other option.  Obviously, however, this recipe would be just fine with conventional dairy as well.

I hope your family enjoys this hearty stick-to-your-bones soup!  It’s great served with Einkorn Buttermilk Biscuits, if you have the time. This meal is a crowd-pleaser in our family, and leftovers heat up well the next day, too.  Plus the best part is it has so many nourishing veggies!

Venison Rainbow Stew

February 5, 2021

by Nicole

Category Dinner RECIPES Wholesome Nutrition

Persons

6

Ingredients

• 2 lbs ground venison (grass-fed beef also works perfectly)
• 3-4 cups diced potatoes with skins (variety of red, yellow, and russet OR sweet)*
• 1 medium yellow onion, diced
• 1 1/2 cups diced bell peppers (variety of red, orange, yellow, green)
• 2 diced jalapenos, seeds removed
• 2 cups chopped carrots
• 5 cloves minced garlic
• 1 tablespoon Italian seasoning
• 1 teaspoon sea salt
• 1 teaspoon black pepper
• 2 quarts (8 cups) chicken stock
• 2 cups organic heaving whipping cream (optional)
• 2 cups organic shredded cheddar cheese (optional)
• 1 bunch green onions, chopped (for garnish)
• * Update 2023 - This recipe originally called for white potatoes. However, after making it for several years, we've found we love the depth of flavor with chopped, skinned sweet potatoes! They are also much more nutrient-dense, so we now use them exclusively in this recipe.

Instructions

1. Brown the ground meat while dicing and chopping the other ingredients.
2. Add potatoes, onion, bell peppers, jalapenos, carrots, garlic, Italian seasoning, sea salt, black pepper, and chicken stock to a stockpot. Mix well.
3. Heat over medium heat and simmer for about an hour, or until the potatoes break apart easily.
4. If using, add heavy whipping cream and cheddar cheese. Stir the soup continuously until the cheddar cheese is melted.
5. Serve immediately with green onions for garnish.

https://naturallywholistic.com/2021/02/venison-rainbow-stew.html