You guys, white bean stew to the rescue! When I was moving to the United States, my dear aunt gave me a fat bag of dried white beans. Once I got here, it only took a few days before I started cooking up all sorts of meals in my brother-in-law's house where we lived at the time. The white beans were cooked in no time. I stewed them in a similar manner I stewed the ones I'm showing you in this post. It was a delicious experience. And I wished I could find the same white beans to recreate that dining experience.
But I didn't find the same white beans in the grocery store. Or let me just say I didn't look enough. Or maybe they were absent at that time - I don't know. All I know is that I stumbled upon very similar dried white beans labelled as "small white beans" the other day and my life changed.
I brought the small white beans home and boiled them. Then I made this hearty white bean stew known in French Cameroon as Haricots Blancs. It is bursting with flavours and so tasty! I hope I'm not bossy if I command you to make this. But if you are looking for a quick meal or ways to incorporate more beans or meatless protein into your diet, here is the way to go!
You could buy dried white beans from grocery stores or a market, depending on where you live. You could also buy already boiled white beans. Any white beans will work here.
To cook an epic pot of delicious white bean stew, here is what you need: boiled white beans, tomatoes, onion, garlic, carrot, salt, Maggi, white pepper, leeks and oil. (See full recipe below for the exact quantities).
Chop all the choppables and mince the minceables. I chopped my tomatoes, onion, carrots and leeks then I minced aka finely chopped the garlic. I just enjoy prepping my ingredients and laying them out like this before cooking. Am I the only one who enjoys this?
Then you saute the onions, add in the tomatoes and eventually all other ingredients except the beans and cook to make a stew.
This stew is so delicious I could pour it all over my white rice and enjoy myself. But now let's make it even better. Add in the beans and mix until it becomes married to the stew.
When the stew and the beans simmer together for a few minutes, your white bean stew is ready! Serve it with some boiled rice or with any side of choice. I am imagining this with fried ripe plantains. They will be a match made in heaven. But for now let's manage with rice.
This is absolutely delicious and it makes a quick weeknight meal if you boil the beans a day before.
And guess what, I found the exact white beans I used - canned version on Amazon! You could click below to purchase (affiliate link).
Hope you enjoy stewing some white beans! Your body needs it.
White Bean Stew
Ingredients
- 6 cups white beans of choice - boiled I used small white beans
- 3 tomatoes - chopped
- 1 medium onion - chopped
- 5 garlic cloves - minced
- ¼ stem of leeks - chopped
- 1 teaspoon ground white pepper
- 3 small stock cubes (Maggi) about 3.5 g cubes optional
- ½ cup oil I used corn oil
- 1 carrot - chopped
- Salt
Instructions
- Pour oil in a pot and heat on medium heat. Add in onions and saute until translucent. Add in tomatoes and fry stirring all the time until it starts sticking to the pot. Add in garlic and stir until fragrant.
- Add in the leeks, white pepper and carrots then stir. Add a cup of water (or stock if you happen to have some), stock cubes and salt to taste. Stir well and let simmer for 2 minutes,
- Add beans and mix to combine with the stew. Let it simmer for about 5 minutes. Add more water if you like it watery but if you like it thick, leave as it is. Taste to ensure that the seasoning is perfect.
- Serve with boiled rice or with any side of choice.
Notes
Nutrition
If you make this recipe, please share a photo on Facebook or Instagram and tag me.
Thank you for sharing. I just got inspired to make something similar. I will try to share and tag you.
http://www.ijefinelivin.com
So glad this inspired you, IJ! I'll look forward to seeing what you make.
Thank you, the food looks great. I will love to try it. Can it be made with the white beans that is sold in Nigerian markets?
Yes you can use that beans, Faith.
My mum would love this recipe. She can eat beans, akara, moi-moi every day. She loves everything beansy lol just like your own coconuty love. 😂
I have grown to like it too, in small portions or eaten with something like this rice and beans combo now is perfect.
Good work Sis.
Thank you sis! Your mom and I should be friends! I literally can't live without beans. I tremble when I have no beans at home. Lol
I love beans generally and I always jump for joy when I eat it with any other combination but fried ripe plantain is my favorite combo.
DOMINIKA GOODNESS BLOG
Dominika, beans and fried plantain is the truth! So good!
wow,this is so great.I tried it and it was more than delicious I should say.I surprised everyone, my dad,fiancé, mom and sisters.infact,it's more like am the new cook now,because I always want to challenge women when it comes to cooking.thanks a lot.
Yes, i love beans stew a lot. wow, how ur beans is delicias. i will prepare some one day.
Nothing To say apart delicious. food just enlighten my day,I can literally eat just that.lol
just waiting for more goodies
Awww you're most welcome!
This was so yummy, thank you for sharing!
Hi Lisa, glad you loved it!
I assume the beans you are using are canned beans because it doesn't seem like they cook for long. Thanks. Cheri
Hi Cheri, I used beans that I had already boiled and softened.