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Chinese Bean Stew 2

Serves 4 to 6 Entree vegetarian

Chinese Bean Stew 2

Chinese Bean Stew 2 is a comforting dish found in many Chinese home kitchens. It features dried beans, onions, and tomato paste, all brought together with a generous amount of oil and seasoned with fine sea salt and black pepper. This version reflects the way a Chinese family cook might prepare it, with salt measured by intuition and fat used liberally.

The stew is meant for sharing, embodying the communal spirit of a family meal. It offers a rich, hearty flavor with the beans providing a creamy texture, complemented by the sweetness of onions and the tang of tomato paste. This dish is a staple in home cooking, enjoyed for its simplicity and satisfying taste.

Ingredients

  • 400 gdried beans — soaked
  • 1onion
  • 2 tbsptomato paste
  • 80 mloil
  • to tastefine sea salt and black pepper

Method

  1. Rinse the 400 g of dried beans under cold water and soak them in a large bowl of water overnight. This will help soften the beans and reduce cooking time. Drain and rinse the beans again before using them in the stew.
  2. Peel and finely chop the onion. In a large, heavy-bottomed pot, heat 80 ml of oil over medium heat. Add the chopped onion to the pot and cook gently, stirring occasionally, until the onion becomes translucent and soft, about 5-7 minutes. This slow cooking allows the onion to release its sweetness, forming a flavorful base for the stew.
  3. Add 2 tbsp of tomato paste to the softened onions. Stir well to combine, ensuring the paste coats the onions evenly. Cook for an additional 2-3 minutes until the tomato paste darkens slightly in color and begins to caramelize, enhancing its rich flavor.
  4. Add the soaked and drained beans to the pot, stirring them into the onion and tomato mixture. Pour in enough water to cover the beans by about 2 cm. Increase the heat to bring the mixture to a gentle simmer.
  5. Once simmering, reduce the heat to low and cover the pot with a lid. Allow the stew to cook slowly, stirring occasionally, until the beans are tender and have absorbed the flavors of the stew. The beans should be soft but not mushy, and the liquid should have thickened slightly to a stew-like consistency.
  6. Taste the stew and season with fine sea salt and black pepper to your preference. Stir well and let it cook for another minute to ensure the seasoning is evenly distributed.
  7. Serve the Chinese Bean Stew 2 hot, directly from the pot, inviting everyone to share in this comforting dish.
Cover of Authentic Chinese Cuisine
From the cookbook

Authentic Chinese Cuisine

This recipe is from Authentic Chinese Cuisine by Yassine Sbiti — the Chinese volume in the ComidaTime International Cuisines series.

Available soon on Amazon…

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