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Berber Stew with Red Haricot Beans

September 02, 2015

Haricot Beans North African Vegan Vegetarian

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Created for us by Lindsey Dickson of The Eating Tree this delicious North African inspired stew is great way to use our Red Haricot Beans (dried or canned) and as Lindsey says, it's brilliant for dinner or for breakfast.

This is my version of a North African stew that is traditionally made with mallow leaves.

In the part of Suffolk where I live Malva sylvestris, or common mallow, is considered a nuisance, self-seeding wherever it likes in the wild and well-tended herbaceous borders alike.

Personally, I am of the view that a weed is just a plant in the wrong place. I love its cheery mauve flowers mingling with the bright red of the poppies in the field opposite my house at the height of summer. The leaves are indeed edible, great for thickening stews, and the liquid from the boiled roots can be used as a substitute for egg whites.

However, it is the leaves of the Jute or Jew’s Mallow (Corchorus olitorius) which would be called for in the original recipe. Although this highly nutritious ‘Egyptian spinach’ is cultivated widely in Egypt, Syria and parts of India, not unsurprisingly it is impossible to find in my local farm shop.

To make matters easier I have used two vegetables which I know and love and happen to have growing in abundance in my vegetable patch.

If you have difficulty sourcing Swiss chard, use just spinach.

The finished stew can be eaten hot with the delicious sauce soaked up with some flat bread. I even like it cold for breakfast.

Preparation time: 30 mins (and an 8 hours soak for dry beans) | Cooking time: 2 hours | Total time: 2 hours 30 mins

Serves: 2 - 4

Ingredients

100g Hodmedod's Red Haricot Beans (dried) or half a drained can of Red Haricot Beans in Water
150ml Extra Virgin Rapeseed Oil
3 Cloves Garlic, chopped
1 Whole Green Chilli
1 Teaspoon Paprika
1 Bay Leaf
100ml Passata
Black Pepper
800ml Water
125g Fresh Spinach
125g Swiss Chard
300g New or Waxy Potatoes chopped into 2cm cubes
2 Teaspoons Salt
1/4 Teaspoon Cayenne
100g Frozen Peas
12 Green Olives
4 Tablespoons Coriander, Chopped
4 Tablespoons Lemon Juice

Method

If using dried beans, soak the beans overnight in cold water then boil rapidly for ten minutes then rinse and drain.
Blanch the washed, chopped spinach (and chard if using) in boiling water for 1-2 minutes until wilted then drain.
In a large saucepan, heat the oil, then add the garlic, chilli, paprika, bayleaf, black pepper (about 20 turns of the grinder) and passata and simmer for 2 minutes.
Add the haricot beans and the water, bring to the boil. If using dried beans, cover with a lid, reduce the heat and simmer for 45 mins - 1 hour until the beans are cooked; if using canned beans proceed immediately to the next step.
Add the potatoes, greens, peas, olives, cayenne, salt and half the coriander and cook uncovered for about 20 minutes until the potatoes are cooked, and the liquid has reduced.
Add the lemon juice and remaining coriander and cook for a further ten minutes.

Lindsey Dickson

Author

Lindsey is a traditional cook who cares about the food she eats and shares with her family and friends in Suffolk. A great supporter of home cooking using fresh ingredients and local produce, she shares her recipes and stories about her life with food on her blog The Eating Tree.