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Zöldbabfőzelék
Green bean stew
Zöldbabfőzelék: tangy Hungarian green bean stew with dill and sour cream
Midsummer in Hungary means baskets of yellow wax and green beans at every market, and zöldbabfőzelék is how home cooks from Kecskemét to Lake Balaton use them up. Short lengths of bean simmer until tender, then a pale roux, plenty of fresh dill, a little sugar and a sharp hit of vinegar make a sweet-sour sauce finished with sour cream. Serve it with fried eggs or new potatoes for a light summer lunch. Chef's tip: balance the vinegar and sugar at the end by tasting, adding a drop at a time; the sauce should taste bright, never harsh.
- Total time
- 35 min
- Difficulty
- easy
- Serves
- 4
Ingredients
- 1 ½ lb green or yellow beanstrimmed, cut into 3 cm pieces
- 2 cups water
- 1 tsp salt
- 2 tbsp sunflower oil
- 1 small onionfinely chopped
- 2 tbsp plain flour
- 4 tbsp fresh dillchopped
- 1 tbsp white wine vinegar
- 1 tsp sugar
- 5 ½ oz sour cream
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Method
0/4 doneStep 1: Simmer 1 ½ lb green or yellow beans in 2 cups water with 1 tsp salt for 10–12 minutes, covered, until tender with no squeak when you bite one.
12 minStep 2: Heat 2 tbsp sunflower oil in a small pan and cook 1 small onion over a low heat for 4 minutes until soft. Stir in 2 tbsp plain flour and cook for 1 minute without browning.
5 minStep 3: Whisk a ladle of the bean water into the roux, then stir it into the beans. Simmer for 4–5 minutes until thickened.
5 minStep 4: Add 4 tbsp fresh dill, 1 tbsp white wine vinegar and 1 tsp sugar. Temper 5 ½ oz sour cream with a little hot sauce, stir it in, heat through without boiling and serve.
2 min
Nutrition per serving
- Calories
- 190 kcal
- Protein
- 5 g
- Carbs
- 18 g
- Fat
- 11 g
- Fibre
- 5 g
Nutrition values are estimates.
KrazyBadal
Good to know
- How long does zöldbabfőzelék take?
- About 35 minutes in total: 10 minutes to prepare and 25 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 small onion?
- 2 shallots per onion.
- What can I use instead of plain flour?
- Self-raising flour, same amount (then leave out the baking powder).
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