Basil & White Bean Stew

White beans are one of those ingredients that we use a lot in Spain. We have them as stews with and without meat, we have them with shellfish, we have them in winter and we have them in summer. We have them dry, in tins and jars. We have the small white bean and the BIG white bean which we call “habones”. We like beans. And this is one of those dishes that you really want to eat often because the flavour is so good. And the smell too! It invades your house and is amazing.

When I was young I used to sit in the kitchen or in front of the TV and help my mum get the beans out of their pods (I did that with peas too). I never understood why she’d do that when there were tined and jarred beans. But she said they were better. So we did that together for what felt like hours on end.

I buy tins or jars if I can find them. I guess is one of those generational things.

My kids help me sometime in the kitchen but not as much as I used to. When they were toddlers, I wouldn’t let them in the kitchen. There was a line that they could not cross when I was cooking. Probably because when I was a toddler myself in my little walker I happened to enter the kitchen when my mum was moving a pot of hot boiling water, the handle broke and the water fell on top of me. I was scolded like a tomato. I won’t give you the details but I was very lucky and only a couple of small scars remain to tell the tale.

You can find the step by step video to this recipe here:

Basil & White Bean Stew

Servings: 4
Prep Time: 10 mins
Cook Time: 30 mins approx
Difficulty: Easy
Rating: stars
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Credit: The Spaniard’s Kitchen

Ingredients

3 Tins of Cannellini Beans

1 Tin of Butter Beans

1 Onion

1 Carrot

2 whole Cloves
5 Ripe Tomatoes (or a tin of chopped tomatoes)
1 Bouquet Garni (Bay Leaf, Thyme and Parsley)
2 Cloves of Garlic
Oil for frying
1 Tbs Salt

Plus for Extra Flavour:

3 Cloves of Garlic
1 Tbs Fresh Basil (or dry)
1/2 Cup of Olive oil

Directions

1. Put some oil in a deep pot and heat up.
2. Add the onions and cook for a few minutes until soft. Then add the white beans.
3. Cover with cold water, and mix, then bring it to the boil.
4. Add the tomatoes followed by the carrots and the garlic and mix.
5. Add the bouquet garni and the whole cloves. Mix. And add the salt.
6. Bring to the boil, then let it simmer for about 30 mins until the beans and carrots are soft.
7. Put 3 garlic cloves in the mortar and add the basil. Mash. Add the oil and mix.
8. When the beans are cooked, add the oil mix to the pot and mix.
9. Serve hot with a side of toasty bread and enjoy!