Bean Casserole

This is tomatoey and smokey and great on a winters night. I use either mild csabai or a smoked paprika which again has no heat in it. This serves 4-6 & is very yummy with mashed potato or a thicker noodle (like a gnocchi for example). You can also add a couple of potatoes and have a thicker one-pot stew. ;)

Bean Casserole

• 1 onion finely chopped
• 2-3 cloves garlic finely chopped
• 2 carrots finely sliced
• 1 stick celery finely sliced
• 1 can beans (I used borlotti but you can use whatever you have)
• 1 440g can chopped tomatoes
• water - fill the can from the tomatoes
• 1 small tub of tomato puree
• 1 stick csabai OR 1/2 tbsp smoked paprika and 200g tofu (for a vegetarian version) chopped into large chunks
• 1 tbsp brown sugar
• 1/2 tbsp vinegar
• salt and pepper to taste

Place all ingredients in a casserole dish, stir till combined. Bake in a preheated 190 degree C oven for 1.5 - 2 hours or until the veggies and the meat is tender.

For the veggie version: do not put the tofu in at the beginning as it tends to fall apart if stewed for a long time. So cook until the veggies are almost tender, then stir the tofu through and cook for another 20 mins.

Bean and vegetable soup

Well, seeing as I have had major problems with my neck and arm, I'm not baking at the moment. I'm hoping this resolves soon, because I'm already sick and tired of being sick and tired!!

It's autumn and the nights are cool here. It is perfect weather for soups and stews. This is one of my favourites! It's light but satisfyingly filling - and very easy and quick to make, which means it is an easy throw together meal at the end of a long day at work. Or in my case, an easy but yummy meal to make when I really don't feel well enough to cook anything complicated.

Bean and Vegetable Soup

3 cloves garlic diced
3 spring onions sliced fine (or 1 onion)
3 carrots sliced
3 stalks celery sliced
1 parsnip sliced
1 tin cannelli beans
1 litre of your favourite stock + extra water if needed.
1 tsp fresh thyme



Lightly fry the garlic and onions till translucent. Add the rest of the ingredients and boil until veggies are tender - add in extra cup or so of water if it has reduced too much in the cooking.  Serve with crusty bread and butter. Leftovers taste even better the next day or can be frozen for later use.