In this recipe
- Why this recipe is great
- Our Go-To Beans for Quick and Delicious Meals
- Making the Perfect Tomato Sauce
- Bean Stew Recipe: Easy Step-by-Step Guide
- More Hearty Soup Recipes
Estimated reading time: 5 minutes
Why this recipe is great
We love this bean stew recipe when we need something fast with simple ingredients.
Use canned beans to save time. It’s all done in one pot with good-for-you ingredients. Let’s cook up a steaming bowl of bean stew—hearty, comforting, and absolutely delicious.
Our Go-To Beans for Quick and Delicious Meals
Did you know there are over 400 types of beans? They come in all kinds of colors, shapes, and tastes! If you’re vegetarian, beans are a part of your weekly meals. They’re a great source of protein, vitamins, and minerals.
You can make so many dishes with beans—like hearty bean stews, vegetable stews, salads, dips, and more!
We love using:
- Cannellini beans
- Butter beans
- Black beans
- Navy beans
- Great northern beans
- Pinto beans
- Lima beans
- Red kidney beans
- Borlotti beans
- White kidney beans
- Garbanzo beans
They create a creamy base, boost protein, and have a rich, earthy flavor. When you’re in a hurry, try a quick bean stew recipe. It’s our favorite white bean recipe. What could be better than creamy white beans in tomato sauce? Plus, it’s super easy to cook—with canned beans!
We use canned beans, but you can also use dry beans. White beans cook quickly, in about 40 minutes. If you have time, cook a large batch of dried beans. Prepare a bean stew recipe and freeze the rest in zip-lock bags or airtight containers. You can keep cooked beans in the freezer for a long time—around 3 to 6 months. It’s so convenient and perfect for plant-based recipes rich in protein! Make a quick white bean soup during the week, or try hummus. So delicious!
Making the Perfect Tomato Sauce
What could be better with creamy and smooth beans than a rich tomato sauce? You can use canned tomatoes or tomato paste to make it. But we all know that the best sauce comes from fresh tomatoes. Though it takes a bit longer to prepare, it’s worth it, especially if the tomatoes are sun-ripened. Add spices to taste, such as chili powder or black pepper, bay leaf, or ground coriander. Use oregano or basil for herbal flavor or just any Italian seasoning you have on hand. Our favorite spice mix includes oregano, ground coriander, white pepper, salt (if canned beans don’t contain salt), and sugar. A hearty vegan stew full of flavor that will please your taste buds!
Bean Stew Recipe: Easy Step-by-Step Guide
Warm up your kitchen with this tasty and easy bean stew recipe! This hearty stew is full of flavor and good-for-you ingredients. It’s our go-to recipe when we need something quick. Perfect for cold weather or whenever you want comforting food. Plus, it’s all done in one pot. What could be easier? So, let’s make our easy butter bean stew together!
You only need a few basic ingredients, and you can find them in any supermarket. This sauce is super easy to make.
Ingredients:
- Fresh tomatoes
- Onion
- Garlic
- Oil
- White beans (drained)
Spices:
- Oregano, coriander, white pepper, salt, and sugar
Mix oregano, coriander, white pepper, and sugar in a small bowl to create your flavor base. Add a pinch of salt. If you’re using canned beans, check if they contain salt. If they do, don’t add extra salt until the end. It’s better to taste the dish and adjust the salt at the end to avoid over-salting.
Let’s start with fresh vegetables. First, chop up a small onion and a garlic clove finely. We’ll fry them in olive oil. For the tomatoes, use vine or cherry tomatoes if you can. They have thin skins, which is handy in the winter months when fresh tomatoes aren’t in season. In the summer, meaty garden tomatoes will take your dish to the next level. Just cut them into pieces.
Grab a large pan. We prefer a frying pan to a large saucepan for the bean stew recipe. It helps the ingredients cook evenly and develop more flavor. Sauté the onion over medium heat until it’s transparent—no longer. Add the minced garlic for just 1 minute. Keep 1-2 tablespoons of cold water nearby. Sprinkle in the spices and quickly stir them in. Let them release their aroma, but don’t let them burn. Pour in a splash of water. Toss the tomatoes into the pan and simmer for 10 minutes with the lid on. Stir occasionally. Blend the mixture on low speed to make your sauce. You can strain it through a sieve to remove any small bits of skin. We usually skip that step because we don’t mind a bit of texture.
While the sauce cooks, drain the canned beans in a sieve. Taste the sauce—it should be slightly salty, especially if your beans are unsalted.
Pour the sauce back into the pan and add the remaining ingredients: drained beans. Mix well and let it simmer for about 10 minutes. Remove from heat and let it rest for 15 minutes so the flavors meld. Adjust the salt or sugar to taste.
That’s it! Your bean stew recipe is ready. Top it with sour cream or a drizzle of olive oil for extra flavor. Sprinkle with fresh herbs like basil, rosemary, or parsley. If you like spicy food, add red pepper flakes or chili flakes. Now you’ve got a spicy white bean stew. You can enjoy it as a primary or side dish. We even love it for breakfast. It’s great with crusty bread. Check out the full recipe for exact measurements and a list of ingredients.
More Hearty Soup Recipes
If you enjoyed our cozy white bean stew, you’ve got to try our black bean soup! All you need are canned black beans, red bell peppers, onions, and spices. It’s a delicious vegan stew loaded with protein. And the best part? The cooking time is short, and it’s a one-pot recipe!
Or try our Ukrainian mushroom soup. It’s full of mushroom flavor, creamy, and lightly rustic. You can use frozen or fresh mushrooms.
Our lasagna soup will be your new favorite if you love thick soups. It’s got tangy tomato sauce, creamy melted cheese, and chewy lasagna noodles. So delicious!
Bean Stew Recipe: One Pot, Simple Ingredients
Ingredients
For the sauce:
- 400 g fresh tomatoes
- 50 g onion 1 small onion
- 5 g garlic 1 clove
- 30 g oil
- 3 cans of white beans in their juice 720 g without the liquid
Spices:
- 1 tsp oregano
- 1 tsp ground coriander
- ½ tsp white pepper
- 1 heaping tsp salt if the beans are canned without added salt
- 1 tsp sugar
Instructions
- Mix all the spices: 1 tsp oregano, 1 tsp ground coriander, ½ tsp white pepper and 1 tsp sugar. Add 1 heaping tsp salt, but only if the beans in the can don’t contain any salt.*
- Chop 400 g of fresh tomatoes. Finely chop 50 g onion (1 small onion) and 5 g garlic (1 clove).
- Add 30 g oil to a large frying pan. Sauté the 50 g of onion for 4-5 minutes on medium heat (level 6 out of 9 on our stove) until translucent. Add 5 g of garlic, mix and sauté for 1 minute.
- Add the spices. Stir to release their aroma. Pour in 50 g of water.
- Add chopped tomatoes and simmer under the lid for about 10 minutes. Stir.
- Drain three cans of white beans in a sieve.
- Blend the sauce in a blender. Strain it through a sieve for an extra smooth and creamy texture and to remove any tomato skins. We don’t mind the skins, so we skip the straining.
- Return the sauce to the pan and add the 720 g of drained beans. Sauté, stirring, for 10 minutes. You might need to add more salt.
- Remove from heat and let it rest for about 15 minutes.
- Serve. Optional: sprinkle with chili flakes for a spicy bean stew.
Video
Notes
*If your canned beans have salt, add extra salt at the end when the dish is ready. This way, you won’t accidentally oversalt it.
Nutrition
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