Serbian Bean Stew Recipes

SERBIAN BAKED BEANS (PREBRANAC)

Steps:

• Chop the onions. Then place the onion and sunflower oil in a dutch oven and heat over a burner on medium low heat. It is best to start the onion off in the cold oil, this will give the onions a more mellow flavor. Bring the onions to a low and slow simmer for 30-40 minutes, until the onions have deepened to a yellow color but are not caramelized.
• Drain and rise the beans. Add the beans, paprika, garlic, bay leaves, and a generous amount of salt and pepper to the pot with the onions. Then stir in 3 cups of water. Cover and bake at 375 degrees for 90 minutes to 2 hours, until most of the moisture has evaporated, the beans have deepened in color, and the top of the beans have caramelized.
• Let the beans cool and then refrigerate. I reheated the beans in a casserole dish before serving.

HEARTY BEAN STEW

Steps:

• In a large saucepan, saute onions in oil until tender; add the garlic, cook 1 minute longer. Add the tomatoes, carrots, celery, broth and Worcestershire sauce. Bring to a boil. Reduce heat; cover and simmer for 15 minutes. , Stir in the beans, tomato paste, chili powder and pepper. Cover and simmer for 30 minutes, stirring occasionally.

PASULJ SERBIAN WHITE BEAN SOUP, OR HOW A COMMON CULTURE CAN SHINE LIKE A BEACON

Steps:

• If using dry beans, soak beans in water overnight (use 2 cups of water to each cup of beans). Drain and rinse beans.
• Pour olive oil on the bottom of the soup pot. Add onion and sauté for five minutes until it is fragrant and starts to brown. Add garlic and sauté for another five.
• If using dry beans, add the soaked, rinsed beans and enough water to cover the beans, plus cover another three inches. Bring the water to a boil then down to a simmer for 20-30 minutes, until the beans are cooked through. Add four more cups of water.
• If using canned beans, add them and enough water to cover beans + three inches, bring to a boil and then lower to a simmer, cook for 10 minutes.
• Add remaining ingredients and cook gently over a low heat until vegetables are at desired texture. (Approximately 30 minutes.)
• If desired, add a dollop of sour cream and some chopped dill in each bowl before serving.

RED BEAN STEW

Steps:

• Drain the beans through a strainer set over a bowl. Place the beans in a large soup pot or Dutch oven. Measure the soaking water in the bowl, and add enough water to it to measure 2 1/2 quarts. Add this to the pot with the beans, turn the heat to medium-high and bring to a gentle boil. Skim off any foam and/or bean skins.
• Meanwhile, heat 1 tablespoon of the oil over medium heat in a large, heavy skillet and add the onions, carrots and peppers. Cook, stirring often, until the vegetables are tender and fragrant, about 8 to 10 minutes. Add 2 of the garlic cloves and continue to cook for another minute or so, until the garlic is fragrant. Season to taste with salt, add another tablespoon of oil and add the paprika. Cook, stirring, for a couple of minutes, until the vegetables are well coated with paprika and the mixture is aromatic. Add a ladleful of simmering water from the beans to the pan, stir with a wooden spoon or heatproof spatula, scraping the bottom and sides of the pan to deglaze, then stir this mixture into the beans. Add the tomato paste and bay leaf, reduce the heat, cover and simmer 1 hour.
• Add the oregano, the remaining garlic cloves, salt to taste, cayenne, vinegar and sugar, and continue to simmer for another hour. The beans should be thoroughly tender and the broth thick and fragrant. Taste and adjust salt, and add more cayenne if desired. For a thicker stew, strain out 1 heaped cup of beans with a little liquid and purée. Stir back into the stew.
• Just before serving, stir in the parsley. Serve over noodles or thick slices of country bread, topping each portion with a large dollop of drained yogurt.

SERBIAN BAKED BEANS (PREBRANAC)

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 200 degrees Celcius (390 degrees Fahrenheit).
• Add the onions to a saucepan on high heat with the lid closed. Saute the onions until they become translucent, leaving the lid on between each stir. This will take about 10 minutes.
• Add in the olive oil and put the lid back on. Saute until the onions begin to brown, then remove from heat.
• Once the onions are done, add in the rest of the ingredients (besides the bay leaf). Give it a good stir.
• Add the bean mixture to a ceramic baking dish, and flatten it out with the back of a spatula.
• Once finished, pour boiled water (around 1½ cups / 330ml) to cover the beans completely. Making sure you are adding just enough to cover them.
• Place the bay leaf in the middle of the dish.
• Put the dish carefully in the oven and bake for around 60 minutes or until it starts to brown a little on the top.
• At this point, change the oven setting to grill and grill the top for 10-15 minutes. Keep an eye on it so that it doesn't burn.
• Remove from the oven and let sit for 10-15 minutes before serving.

PASULJ (SERBIAN WHITE BEAN SOUP) RECIPE

Steps:

• In a large soup pot, place beans, water, and ham. Bring to a boil, stirring occasionally so beans don't stick, and skimming off any foam that rises to the surface. Add salt and pepper to taste. Lower temperature and simmer 1 hour.
• Add vegetables, bring back to the boil, reduce heat, and continue to simmer for 1 more hour. Remove the meat from the ham hock or ham bone and return to soup.
• If the soup isn't thick enough, you can add an optional zafrig or thickener. In a small saucepan, add oil and flour and cook until light brown. Add paprika off heat, stirring well. Return to low heat and add 1 cup bean soup, mixing well. Pour back into the soup pot and simmer 5 minutes or until soup is thickened to your liking.
• Serve in heated bowls garnished with chopped parsley if desired. It tastes even better the next day.

SAUERKRAUT AND BEAN STEW (SLOVENIAN JOTA)

Steps:

• Place the potatoes in a small pot and fill with enough cold water to cover them with an additional few inches. Bring to a boil and check on them occasionally, so the water doesn't boil over.
• While the potatoes are cooking, add the olive oil and onions to a large pot on medium heat and saute for a couple of minutes. You want them to be golden but not browned.
• Add in the garlic and saute for a further 1-2 minutes.
• Add the bay leaves, tomato paste, smoked paprika, sauerkraut and 2 cups / 500ml water (or stock). Mix well and bring to a simmer.
• At this point, the potatoes should be cooked. Check by putting a knife through one. It should go straight through. Drain the water and roughly mash them with a fork.
• Add them to the large pot with another 2 cups / 500ml of water (or stock) and mix well. Let it simmer for 15 minutes with the lid askew to retain the liquid.
• Add in the cooked beans, stir and simmer for a further 20 minutes.
• At the end, freshly grind some pepper to taste and add salt if needed. Remove the bay leaves and serve.

SERBIAN BEAN SOUP

Steps:

• Heat oil in a large stew pot over medium heat. Cook and stir sliced chorizo until slightly brown and the oil takes on color, 5 to 6 minutes. Add onion, bacon, and garlic; cook until onion is soft and bacon is crisp, about 5 minutes. Add debreziner sausage and peppers and cook until mixture is smooth and soft, about 5 minutes more.
• Stir in crushed tomatoes, white beans, beef stock, tomato paste, and ketchup. Season with savory, salt, pepper, cayenne, and bay leaves. Add flour to thicken and simmer, half-covered, until flavors combine, about 40 minutes. Season with salt and pepper.

PASULJ (SERBIAN WHITE BEAN SOUP)

Steps:

• Soak beans in plenty of cold water overnight. Drain.
• Combine beans, water, and and ham hock in a large pot and bring to a boil over medium-high heat. Skim off any foam and season with salt and pepper. Reduce heat and and simmer for 1 hour.
• Add carrots, red potatoes, celery, onion, bay leaf, and peppercorns; bring to a boil again. Reduce heat and simmer for 1 more hour.
• Remove ham hock and cut off meat from the bone. Return to the soup.
• Meanwhile, heat oil in a saucepan over medium-low heat and cook garlic until fragrant, about 1 minute. Stir in flour and cook, stirring, until lightly brown. Remove from heat and stir in paprika until well combined. Return to stove over low heat and stir in 1 cup of soup liquid, mixing until well combined. Pour mixture back into the soup pot and simmer for 5 minutes. Adjust seasoning with salt and pepper.

SERBIAN PORK AND BEANS

Steps:

• Put the beans in a heavy casserole and cover with water. Bring to a boil; boil for 2 minutes. Remove from the heat and let stand, covered, for 1 hour Add the smoked pork and cook slowly, covered, for 1 hour. Meanwhile, saute' the onions and garlic in oil until tender. Stir in the paprika and cook for 1 minute. Add the mixture to the beans and pork; continue to cook until the beans are tender, about 40 minutes. If desired, sprinkle with hot red pepper flakes. Salt and pepper to taste. The final dish should have a very thick sauce.

CROATIAN BEAN SOUP (GRAH I VARIVAH)

Steps:

• Gather the ingredients.
• Drain the soaked beans, rinse them, and drain again.
• Place in a large pot and add 12 cups fresh cold water. Bring to a boil, reduce heat to a simmer, and skim off any foam that rises to the surface.
• Add garlic, onion, smoked sausage of choice, smoked ribs or meaty smoked ham hocks, bay leaf, salt, pepper and Vegeta seasoning powder to taste.
• Return to a boil, reduce heat, and simmer, partially covered, for 2 to 3 hours or until beans and meat are tender. Add water as needed, while cooking, stirring occasionally.
• Remove bay leaf and discard. Remove bones from rib meat or hocks and return meat to the pot. If soup isn't thick enough, continue to simmer until desired consistency is achieved.

SERBIAN BEAN STEW

Steps:

• Add all ingredients in large pot (EXCEPT THE OIL, FLOUR and RED PAPRIKA & SALT). Add enough water to just cover (Don't add more now, you will add a bit of water later.
• Cook until veggies are tender, about 1 hour depending on individual stoves. Taste and adjust salt. At this point you can turn off stove cover pot and leave until ready to have dinner. NOW, make roux - in small sauce pan add oil and flour and paprika over med heat stirring so as not to burn. When you can scrape your finger down the back of your wooden spoon and it remains, it's good. Remove from flame, add a ladle of soup from bean pot stirring quickly so as not to clump but still be thick. Pour slowly into large pot w/other ingredients stirring all the while briskly and heat until thickened. Add little water if you feel it's too thick.
• TOMATO & ONION SALAD.
• 3 large ripe tomatoes diced small.
• 1 large onion diced small.
• 1/4 cup oil.
• salt.
• Add into bowl and add oil and salt to taste. Mix together set aside until ready.