Shelling Bean Stew Recipes

MEXICAN BEAN STEW

Steps:

• Rinse and sort pinto beans, black beans and garbanzo beans. Place in a large bowl and cover with water. Soak overnight.
• Drain beans and place in a large pot; cover with water. Bring to a boil and cook for 1 hour, or until beans are tender. It may be necessary to add more water during cooking to prevent drying out or scorching.
• Heat oil in a small saucepan over medium-high heat. Saute onion and garlic until onion is transparent. Stir in cumin. To the beans add the onions, garlic and crushed tomatoes. Simmer for 20 minutes. Stir in corn and cinnamon; cook 15 minutes more. Season with salt, pepper and cayenne to taste 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.

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.

BEEF AND BEAN STEW

Steps:

• In a large resealable plastic bag, combine the flour, paprika, salt and cayenne. Add beef, a few pieces at a time, and shake to coat. In a Dutch oven over medium heat, brown beef in 2 tablespoons oil. Remove with a slotted spoon; set aside. , In the same pan, saute onions in the remaining oil until crisp-tender. Add the water, tomato paste, sage and thyme. Return beef to pan. Bring to a boil; reduce heat. Cover and simmer for 1-1/4 hours, stirring occasionally. , Add more water if needed. Stir in beans. Cover and simmer 15 minutes longer or until meat is tender.

BEAN-HOLE STEW

Steps:

• Dig a hole in the ground 3 feet deep and line it with rocks. Build a fire in the hole and let it burn down to large embers and ash. (This can take half a day before enough coals are produced to cook the beans properly.).
• Put the beans into an 8-quart cast iron pot and add all the other ingredients. Add enough water to cover the beans and give it a good stir. Put the lid on and wrap the edge of the lid with aluminum foil to prevent dirt and ashes from getting into the pot. Place the pot in the hole. Shovel some of the embers and ashes on top of the pot and cover it with dirt. Cook for 6 to 8 hours. Dig up the pot, brush off the dirt and ashes, and remove the lid. Be sure to wear oven mitts or leather gloves, as the pot will still be very hot.
• Alternately, the beans can be cooked in a slow cooker for 6 to 8 hours.

SHELLING-BEAN MINESTRONE

Steps:

• Combine shelled beans, fennel bulb, whole shallot, halved carrot, and smashed garlic cloves in a medium pot; add water to cover by 2 inches. Add 1 tablespoon salt and bring to a boil over medium-high heat, then reduce heat and simmer until beans are creamy in centers, 40 to 50 minutes. Season to taste toward end of cooking.
• Meanwhile, bring a pot of water to a boil and prepare an ice bath. Using a paring knife, lightly score bottom of each tomato with an X. Add tomatoes to boiling water and blanch until skin pulls away, 20 to 30 seconds. Transfer to ice bath. When cool enough to handle, peel tomatoes, remove seeds, and coarsely chop. (You should have about 2 1/2 cups.)
• Heat oil in a medium pot over medium-high until shimmering. Add chopped fennel and shallot and sliced carrots; season with salt and pepper. Cook, stirring occasionally, until vegetables are golden in places, about 5 minutes. Stir in minced garlic; cook until fragrant, 30 seconds. Stir in tomato paste and cook, stirring, until toasted, 1 minute more. Add chopped tomatoes; cook until tomato juices reduce slightly, about 3 minutes. Stir in pole beans and water or stock; season. Bring to a boil, then reduce heat to low and partially cover. Simmer until vegetables are tender and flavors meld, about 30 minutes.
• Cook pasta in a pot of salted boiling water until al dente; drain. Stir 2 cups cooked shelling beans into soup; season with salt and vinegar to taste. Just before serving, stir in greens. Divide pasta and soup among bowls, and serve with a drizzle of oil and sprinkles of parsley and red-pepper flakes.

LAMB AND CABBAGE STEW WITH FRESH SHELL BEANS

Steps:

• Heat small skillet over medium-high heat. Add coriander and caraway seeds to dry skillet; toast until aromatic and slightly darker in color, stirring frequently, about 3 minutes. Finely grind in mortar with pestle or in spice mill. Transfer spice mixture to medium bowl. Add mint, salt, turmeric, crushed red pepper, and 1 tablespoon oil; mix to paste. Add lamb; toss to coat. Cover and chill at least 8 hours or overnight.
• Heat remaining 2 tablespoons oil in large pot over medium heat. Add lamb mixture and onions; sauté until outside of meat is no longer pink and onions begin to soften, about 8 minutes. Add crushed tomatoes, garlic, cinnamon stick, and bay leaf. Bring to simmer. Add carrots, then cabbage; sprinkle with coarse salt and pepper. Add 1 1/2 cups water and 2 tablespoons lemon juice to pot; stir to combine. Bring to boil. Reduce heat to low; cover and simmer until meat and cabbage are tender, stirring occasionally, 1 1/2 to 1 3/4 hours.
• Meanwhile, place fresh beans, if using, in small saucepan. Add pinch of coarse salt and just enough water to cover beans. Simmer uncovered until just tender, 10 to 30 minutes, depending on kind of bean. Drain.
• Remove cinnamon stick and bay leaf from stew. Add cooked beans (or canned beans, if using) and remaining 1 tablespoon lemon juice. Simmer 5 minutes to allow flavors to blend. Season to taste with salt and pepper. DO AHEAD: Can be made 1 day ahead. Refrigerate uncovered until cool; cover and keep chilled. Rewarm over medium heat, stirring occasionally.
• Stir parsley into stew. Divide stew among bowls. Sprinkle with ground cumin.