Fabada Asturiana: A Hearty Spanish Bean Stew that Warms the Soul

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Dive into the rich culinary tradition of Asturias with Fabada, a legendary Spanish bean stew that captures the essence of comfort food. This robust dish is more than just a meal – it’s a celebration of Spanish cuisine that brings together the finest cured meats and tender white beans in a symphony of flavors that will transport you straight to the northern regions of Spain.

Ingredients

  • US Measurements:
    • 2 cups dried white beans
    • 7 oz mild or spicy Spanish chorizo
    • 5.3 oz Spanish blood sausage (morcilla)
    • 5.3 oz smoked bacon or pancetta
    • 1 onion
    • 2 garlic cloves
    • 1 bay leaf
    • 1 tsp sweet paprika
    • Extra virgin olive oil
    • Salt
    • Chopped parsley (optional)
  • Metric Measurements:
    • 400g dried white beans
    • 200g Spanish chorizo
    • 150g morcilla
    • 150g smoked bacon or pancetta
    • 1 onion
    • 2 garlic cloves
    • 1 bay leaf
    • 1 tsp sweet paprika
    • Extra virgin olive oil
    • Salt
    • Chopped parsley (optional)

Step-by-Step Preparation

  1. Prepare the Beans
    • Soak white beans in cold water overnight (minimum 12 hours)
    • Drain beans before cooking
  2. Start the Fabada
    • Place beans in a large pot
    • Add chopped chorizo, whole or chunked morcilla, and bacon
    • Add whole peeled onion, garlic cloves, bay leaf, and paprika
    • Drizzle with olive oil
  3. Cooking
    • Cover ingredients with cold water
    • Bring to a boil
    • Reduce heat to low
    • Simmer covered for 2.5 hours
    • Remove surface foam as needed
    • Add water if mixture becomes too dry
  4. Finishing
    • Remove onion
    • Season with salt to taste
    • Garnish with chopped parsley if desired

Cooking Details

  • Preparation Time: 20 minutes
  • Cooking Time: 2.5 hours
  • Servings: 4
  • Difficulty: Medium

Nutrition (Approximate per serving)

  • Calories: 450
  • Protein: 25g
  • Fat: 30g
  • Carbohydrates: 20g

Why Fabada is a Nutritional Powerhouse

Fabada isn’t just delicious – it’s incredibly nutritious. The combination of white beans and lean proteins provides a complete meal packed with:

  • High-quality protein
  • Fiber for digestive health
  • Essential minerals
  • Complex carbohydrates for sustained energy

Pro Cooking Tip

Time-Saving Hack: Use a pressure cooker to reduce cooking time to just 40-45 minutes while maintaining the traditional rich flavor.

Serve this magnificent stew piping hot with rustic bread to soak up every last drop of the incredible broth. Buen provecho!