Vegan Bean Stew

I make bean stew recipe in various ways. The ingredients which are indispensable are usually onions and tomato (or pepper) paste. Depending on my craving and the contents of my fridge, I can add some sausages, peppers, carrots, sour cream and tarragon - I really like its flavour. That's something I learned here in Romania. I appreciate tarragon only in combination with beans.

Now I'm showing you the simplest option - fasting / vegan, no meat and other additives.

Ingredients
Dried white beans
500 g
+ 2 bay leaves
White onion
1 piece
Tomato paste
1 tbsp
I use sweet pepper paste for a more intense color and better taste
Bell pepper
1 piece
Tomatoes
2 pieces
or canned chopped tomatoes
Sunflower oil
50 ml
Dried herbs(parsley, dill, etc)
1 tsp
ground black pepper and tarragon, don't omit
Salt
1 tsp
to taste
Step by step
Step 1

The first and longest step is boiling the beans.

Soak the beans in water overnight and they will boil much faster the next day. I usually pour 3-4 times more water than beans in a pot, add bay leaves, 2 tablespoons of oil and a whole raw onion.

Here I boiled the beans in the multicooker for five hours. I didn't soak them in advance and added two bay leaves.

Vegan Bean Stew - Step 1
Step 2

When the beans have boiled, we start cooking the stew.

Heat oil in a pan, add onions, diced or julienned, and cook for two minutes.

Vegan Bean Stew - Step 2
Step 3

Add pepper, diced or julienned, mix well and cook together for about five minutes.

Vegan Bean Stew - Step 3
Step 4

Now, the diced tomatoes, mix and leave for another five minutes over medium heat.

Vegan Bean Stew - Step 4
Step 5

Add the pepper / tomato paste. I prefer pepper paste. I buy sweet pepper paste from Arab stores or from the international products department at Carrefour.

Stir and cook for another two minutes.

Vegan Bean Stew - Step 5
Step 6

Add the boiled beans and a bit of cooking liquid.

We add the liquid in order for the beans to simmer in this vegetable sauce and for the stew to be juicy. Don't pour all the water in which they boiled, add just enough liquid to thicken the pepper and tomato sauce.

Vegan Bean Stew - Step 6
Step 7

Stir well. When it comes to a boil, turn the heat to low and leave for about 20-30 minutes.

The beans will be infused with the aromas from the vegetables, the sauce will reduce and thicken.

Vegan Bean Stew - Step 7
Step 8

Season with salt, add a little ground black pepper, dried herbs (here parsley and tarragon).

Stir well, let boil for another minute and turn off the heat.

Vegan Bean Stew - Step 8
Step 9

I like to let the stew sit in the pan without the heat for about 10-15 minutes to "calm down" and infuse. I serve it as such, with bread or polenta.

Vegan Bean Stew - Step 9
Step 10

And definitely with some pickles. Here I have Marinated Tomatoes, a recipe from my mother.

Enjoy!

Vegan Bean Stew - Step 10
Quantity: 1 kg (3-4 servings)
Prep time:
45 min
Difficulty: easy
Ready in: 120 min