It has taken maturity to embrace the glorious simplicity of this kind of dinner. My inner critic is prone to telling me that it's not creative enough or new enough or whatever overachieving mark you might expect from a perfectionist fantasy.
But this stew is made of pantry staples, comes together in 20 minutes, and is delicious, nourishing and balanced. It's a dream of a meal -- fun to make, fun to eat and proof that simple is wonderful.
Like all stews, it gets better with a few days in the fridge. It also works well as a side dish for a larger barbecue meal and as a potluck dish.
Sauté vegetables, then chorizo and tomato paste. Add beans and water and cook until thickened and flavorful. Add greens and eat.
Makes 4 servings
Ingredients
Instructions
1. Melt the butter in a medium pot over medium-high heat. Add the shallots, bell pepper and ½ teaspoon salt to the pot and cook, stirring occasionally, until the shallots are translucent, 3 to 5 minutes.
2. Add the chorizo and tomato paste, using a wooden spoon to break up the chorizo. Cook until the chorizo is cooked through and beginning to brown, another 3 minutes. Then add the beans, 1 ½ cups water and the remaining ½ teaspoon salt. Put a lid on the pot and let it cook for about 10 minutes.
3. Taste the stew and add more salt if you think it needs it. Squish a few of the beans with the back of the spoon to thicken the broth. Turn off the heat, add the greens, and stir them into the stew until wilted.
4. Dollop the stew into bowls over cooked farro, pasta or rice, or serve with bread for dunking.
Copyright © Times of London © 2021