Casserole Vs Stew: What’s the Difference?

Casserole and stew, both being a one-pot dishes and favorites for comfort-food lovers, have similarities as far as the main ingredients go. The basic formula for both of these dishes is the same: protein, vegetables, a starchy ingredient, and a liquid.

Notwithstanding the similarities, there are some key differences between a stew and a casserole:

The cooking process

A casserole is cooked in the oven, which makes the heat circulate all around the dish. Additionally, when in the oven, the casserole is usually uncovered.

Stews, on the other hand, are cooked on the stove. This implies that heat is applied to the dish only from the bottom of the vessel. The lid is usually on for the cooking.

The Main Three Parts of a Casserole

When it comes to ingredients, casserole consists of protein, vegetables, and some kind of a starchy binder to hold everything together.

For the protein, you can opt for beef, chicken, pork and even fish. As far as the vegetables go, the options are unlimited. If you are following a plant-based diet, you will enjoy making a vegan casserole with eggplants, carrots or potatoes.

Meat and vegetables in a casserole dish are usually cooked and chopped into bite-size pieces. Meat is usually pre-browned. Further cooking in the oven makes it even more tender while raw vegetables cook to perfection.

What Makes Stew a Stew?

Stew is a one-pot dish made with meats that require more cooking and a variety of vegetables. As opposed to a casserole, a lot more liquid is added into a stew, as the final result should be a combination of solid food and delicious gravy.

Aside from being the name of the dish, stew also refers to the technique of cooking. It is when ingredients are cooked on low heat, in a liquid, and in a covered pan. When making a stew, you can choose tough kinds of meat. As a result of cooking for a long time, the meat becomes tender and rich in flavor.

Once the meat is braised, vegetables, such as potatoes, carrots, onions, and celery are added. The most appealing part of a good stew is the sauce. To get a nice rich gravy, liquids are added to the ingredients after which they simmer on a low heat for a couple of hours.

While water can be added to the ingredients, adding stock, wine or even beer will make the final dish taste nothing like a plain combination of meat and vegetables.