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Babfőzelék
Creamy white bean stew
Babfőzelék: creamy white bean főzelék with paprika roux, vinegar and sour cream
Babfőzelék is what cooks in Transdanubian villages and Budapest workers' canteens make on Fridays and in the cold months, when a pot of dried white beans goes a long way. The beans cook until creamy, then a garlicky paprika roux thickens the liquid, a splash of vinegar makes it tangy and sour cream softens it. Served with a slice of rye bread or a fried egg, it is a hearty meat-free lunch. Soak the beans overnight first. Chef's tip: add salt and vinegar only once the beans are completely soft; acid in the pot early keeps the skins tough no matter how long they cook.
- Total time
- 90 min
- Difficulty
- easy
- Serves
- 4
Ingredients
For the beans
- 12 ½ oz dried white beanssoaked overnight in cold water
- 1.5 litres water
- 1 carrotdiced
For the roux
- 3 tbsp sunflower oil
- 1 onionfinely chopped
- 2 cloves garliccrushed
- 2 tbsp plain flour
- 2 tsp sweet paprika
To finish
- 1 ½ tsp salt
- 1 ½ tbsp cider or wine vinegar
- 1 pinch sugar
- 5 ½ oz sour cream
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Method
0/5 doneStep 1: Drain the soaked 12 ½ oz dried white beans and put them in a pan with fresh 1.5 litres water, 2 bay leaves and 1 carrot. Bring to the boil, skim, then simmer gently, partly covered, for 50–60 minutes until a bean squashes easily between your fingers.
60 minStep 2: Heat 3 tbsp sunflower oil in a small pan over a medium-low heat and soften 1 onion for 5 minutes. Add 2 cloves garlic and 2 tbsp plain flour and stir for 1 minute until light gold.
6 minStep 3: Take the pan off the heat, stir in 2 tsp sweet paprika and whisk in a ladle of bean liquid until smooth.
1 minStep 4: Stir the roux into the beans with 1 ½ tsp salt and simmer for 8 minutes, stirring, until thick and creamy. Mash a ladle of beans against the pan if you want it thicker.
8 minStep 5: Add 1 ½ tbsp cider or wine vinegar and 1 pinch sugar. Temper 5 ½ oz sour cream with a little hot liquid, stir it in, heat without boiling and serve.
2 min
Nutrition per serving
- Calories
- 390 kcal
- Protein
- 18 g
- Carbs
- 50 g
- Fat
- 13 g
- Fibre
- 15 g
Nutrition values are estimates.
KrazyBadal
Good to know
- How long does babfőzelék take?
- About 90 minutes in total: 15 minutes to prepare and 75 minutes to cook.
- How many people does it serve?
- 4 as written. Change the servings above the ingredients and every amount scales to match.
- Is it vegetarian?
- Yes. It has no meat or fish.
- What can I use instead of bay leaves?
- Leave it out, or a pinch of dried thyme (it's a background flavour).
- What can I use instead of carrot?
- Parsnip or sweet potato, same weight.
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