Name: Kuru Fasulye (Turkish White Bean Stew)
Prep time: 10 min
Cook time: 45 min
Total time: 55 min
Yield: 2 servings
Cuisine: Turkish
Ingredients: 1½ cup Cannellini Beans, cooked or canned, drained; 2 tbsp Olive Oil, for cooking; 1 Onion, finely chopped; 2 clove Garlic, finely chopped; 2 tbsp Tomato Puree, for the stew base; 1 tbsp Turkish Pepper Paste, mild or hot, as preferred; ½ tsp Paprika, for warmth; ¼ tsp Ground Cumin, optional earthy note; ¾ tsp Salt, adjust to taste; ¼ tsp Ground Black Pepper, freshly ground if possible; 1½ cup Water, hot; 1 tbsp Lemon Juice, for serving

55 mintotal

Prep 10 min · Cook 45 min

Serves: 2
Difficulty: Easy
Spice: Mild

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Method

Warm olive oil in a pot over medium heat. Add onion and cook until soft and lightly golden.
Add garlic and cook briefly until fragrant.
Stir in tomato puree, Turkish pepper paste, paprika, and cumin powder. Cook until the paste looks glossy and no longer raw.
Add the cannellini beans, hot water, salt, and black pepper. Bring to a simmer.
Cover and cook on low heat until the stew thickens and the beans absorb the tomato-pepper flavor.
Taste and adjust salt. Finish with lemon juice before serving.

How to tell it's done

The beans should be tender and creamy inside, while the sauce should be thick enough to coat them.

Getting it right

Tip

Simmer the beans slowly after adding the paste; this helps the stew become rounded instead of tasting sharp.

What to serve it with

Serve with rice pilaf, bread, pickles, or a simple onion salad.

Common mistakes

The stew tastes raw and sharp.: Fry the tomato puree and pepper paste until they darken and turn glossy, and the oil begins to separate. Paste added straight to water keeps a raw, tinny edge right through the dish.
The beans break down into mush.: Simmer gently, uncovered or barely covered, and stir rarely. Kuru fasulye should have whole beans in a thick sauce, not a puree; a hard boil collapses them.

Substitutions

White beans or navy beans can replace cannellini beans if they are already cooked until tender.
Tomato puree can be increased slightly if Turkish pepper paste is mild.
Serve with rice for a traditional-style meal, but the stew also works with bread.

Storing and reheating

Keeps four days in the fridge and is better on the second day. It freezes well for three months. Reheat gently with a splash of water, since it thickens considerably as it cools.

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Ingredients