Slow Cooker Root Vegetables With Ham

This simple vegetable and ham mixture is an easy and filling meal for any time of the week. Easily assembled, the stew cooks in the slow cooker on low for 6 to 8 hours—or 3 to 4 if choosing the high setting–without you having to do much else. Potatoes, celery, carrots, and onions, cook in a delicious chicken stock-based liquid that is flavored by a generous amount of ham. The mixture cooks and thickens thanks to the addition of rich and creamy evaporated milk, but if you prefer these types of preparations to be even thicker you can add the optional flour and water slurry to help. The dish is a complete meal that you can serve with a green salad and some bread slices to soak up the juices on your plate. Prepare in the morning and have it ready by dinner time with one or two stops to check in on the cooking process.

Root vegetables are rich in nutrients and very budget-friendly, especially when in season. We used potatoes, carrots, onions, and celery, but other root vegetables of your liking like parsnips, celeriac, rutabaga, or daikon are also great vegetables to add into the mix. Simply keep the amounts similar to our suggestions so you have a balanced meal, and always use fragrant onions to add a sweet undertone to the mix. Use any cooked ham that you enjoy, but in a pinch add the same amount of smoked sausages. This is a hearty meal that benefits from fresh herbs when serving, for flavor and color. You can use fresh parsley to taste, but cilantro or basil also add a great herby touch that pairs well with the rich ham flavor.

We suggest using unsalted stock because the ham will add a reasonable amount of salt. Taste test before serving and add sat to taste, but the ham should be enough to give the necessary amount of saltiness. Add a pinch of chile pepper flakes for some heat, or serve with your favorite hot sauce for each guest to add to taste.