Hearty English-style Bean Stew

Ingredients

In this adaptation of the traditional Chilean dish, porotos granados, we have incorporated English cuisine elements to create a hearty bean stew. While the original recipe uses cranberry beans and pumpkin, we have substituted them with common beans and sweet corn, which are more readily available in English cuisine. Additionally, we have adjusted the seasoning and spices to suit the English palate, resulting in a comforting and flavorful stew that captures the essence of both cuisines. We alse have the original recipe for Porotos granados, so you can check it out.

• 2 cups (400g) common beans, soaked overnight 2 cups (400g) common beans, soaked overnight
• 2 tablespoons olive oil 2 tablespoons olive oil
• 1 onion, diced 1 onion, diced
• 2 cloves garlic, minced 2 cloves garlic, minced
• 2 carrots, diced 2 carrots, diced
• 2 celery stalks, diced 2 celery stalks, diced
• 1 red bell pepper, diced 1 red bell pepper, diced
• 1 cup (150g) sweet corn kernels 1 cup (150g) sweet corn kernels
• 1 teaspoon dried thyme 1 teaspoon dried thyme
• 1 teaspoon dried rosemary 1 teaspoon dried rosemary
• 4 cups (950ml) vegetable broth 4 cups (950ml) vegetable broth
• Salt and pepper, to taste Salt and pepper, to taste
• Fresh parsley, for garnish Fresh parsley, for garnish

Nutrition

• Calories (kcal / KJ): 320 kcal / 1340 KJ
• Fat (total, saturated): 7g, 1g
• Carbohydrates (total, sugars): 55g, 8g
• Protein: 13g
• Fiber: 14g
• Salt: 1.5g

Preparation

1. 1.
   Drain and rinse the soaked beans.
2. 2.
   In a large pot, heat the olive oil over medium heat.
3. 3.
   Add the diced onion and minced garlic to the pot and sauté until translucent.
4. 4.
   Add the diced carrots, celery, and red bell pepper to the pot and cook for 5 minutes, until slightly softened.
5. 5.
   Stir in the sweet corn kernels, dried thyme, and dried rosemary, and cook for another 2 minutes.
6. 6.
   Add the soaked beans and vegetable broth to the pot. Bring to a boil, then reduce the heat to low and simmer for 1 to 1.5 hours, or until the beans are tender.
7. 7.
   Season with salt and pepper to taste.
8. 8.
   Serve the stew hot, garnished with fresh parsley.

Treat your ingredients with care...

• Beans — Soaking the beans overnight helps to reduce cooking time and ensures they cook evenly. If you're short on time, you can use canned beans instead, but adjust the cooking time accordingly.
• Sweet corn — Fresh sweet corn kernels provide the best flavor and texture, but you can also use frozen corn if fresh is not available. If using canned corn, make sure to drain and rinse it before adding it to the stew.

Tips & Tricks

• For a thicker stew, you can mash some of the cooked beans with a fork or blend a portion of the stew using an immersion blender.
• Serve the stew with crusty bread or over cooked rice for a more substantial meal.
• Feel free to customize the vegetables based on your preferences or seasonal availability.
• Add a splash of Worcestershire sauce or balsamic vinegar for an extra depth of flavor.
• Leftovers can be refrigerated for up to 3 days or frozen for future meals.

Serving advice

Serve the hearty English-style bean stew in bowls, garnished with fresh parsley. Accompany it with a side of crusty bread or cooked rice for a complete and satisfying meal.

Presentation advice

To enhance the presentation, you can drizzle a swirl of olive oil on top of the stew and sprinkle some additional fresh herbs, such as thyme or rosemary. Serve it in colorful ceramic bowls to make the dish visually appealing.