Bean stew with Smoked Spanish Paprika
Habichuelas en estofado
This is standard fare for Saturday lunch at our house. We put the beans to soak on Friday night and prepare this in 15 minutes before breakfast, so that lunch can “make itself” while we are out running errands. Any leftovers are packed for school lunches during the week. Many Spanish cooks use simple mnemonics to remember oft-cooked dishes. For this one, I use a rule of threes. Serve with a robust red from the Toro region near Salamanca.
Generous 1 lb / 500 gr of white beans (navy or kidney are fine) – covered in water, brought to the boil, and soaked overnight
1/3 cup extra virgin olive oil
3 tsp Spanish smoked paprika
¼ lb / 100 gr chorizo or Serrano ham coarsely chopped (optional)
3 onions, diced
3 carrots, diced
3 celery stalks, diced
6 cups boiling water
Salt to taste
The night before, prepare the beans. Put them in a large pot and cover with water to three inches above the beans. Add some salt. Heat on high until the water boils. Turn off the heat and leave the beans to soak overnight.
When you are ready to prepare the beans, drain the water in which they were boiled and soaked.
In a large soup pot, heat the olive oil on medium heat.
Add the Smoked Spanish paprika and simmer it for 30 seconds being careful not to let it burn. Add the chorizo or Serrano ham if you have it.*
Add the onions and sweat them on medium heat about 3 minutes
Add the carrots and celery. Continue to simmer the mixture until the onions are translucent, about 5 minutes
Add the beans and stir so that they are coated with the oil, onions, carrots and celery. Add the boiling water and simmer covered for 2-3 hours depending on the hardness of the beans. The beans may stick to the bottom of the pot toward the end of the cooking time. A quick stir will help avoid this.
Add salt to taste. (I start with 3 tsp for this recipe).
Remove from heat for 15 minutes before serving.
* Some Italian delis offer Prosciutto ham “ends”. These are a great alternative to Serrano Ham, which is not always easy to find.