Spanish Style Beans

Serves: 4

Time: 30 minutes 

If you want a quick, easy, and very delicious dish that will feel like you’re sitting in a tapas restaurant… this Spanish style beans with smokey and sweet flavours is the dish for you! Hearty, filling, and nutritious, it’s ready in under 30 minutes, and uses only a few simple ingredients you probably already have. It makes a great main meal, tapas dish, or side dish. It would be delicious served with some crusty bread to dip in, or it works really well alongside some rice or a grain as pictured here.

Ingredients: 

• 1 onion (diced)

• 3 garlic cloves (chopped finely)

• 1 tablespoon extra virgin olive oil

• 1 bell pepper (diced)

• 1 handful of chopped kale or spinach (optional)

• 1 red chilli (chopped with seeds removed)

• 1 tablespoon of smoked paprika

• 2 cans of beans – 1 400g can of butter beans & 1 400g can of cannellini beans (or two of the same type if you prefer)

• 1 400g can of chopped tomatoes

• 2 fresh tomatoes (chopped) (optional)

• 1 tablespoon of tomato paste

• Salt & pepper to taste

Cooking Steps: 

1. Place a large saucepan over a medium heat.

2. Once hot, add olive oil along with your chopped garlic, onion, bell pepper and chilli. After a few minutes of cooking, add in the two fresh tomatoes and smoked paprika and continue to stir fry.

3. Once the onion and pepper have softened, add your can of crushed tomatoes, beans, tomato paste, and season with salt and pepper. Add a small amount of water to the empty can of tomatoes and add this to the pan.

4. Simmer for 15-20 minutes, checking it regularly so it doesn’t stick to the bottom of the pan.

5. Once it has cooked and thickened, add the chopped kale or spinach and stir it through.

6. Remove from the heat and serve up. Garnish with fresh basil or parsley if you like, and enjoy!