Turkish cuisine isn't only about elaborate grilled meats and colourful meze. Some of its most loved foods are remarkably humble, and kuru fasulye, a hearty white bean stew, is a perfect example.
Often eaten alongside rice, pickles and bread, it's the sort of uncomplicated meal associated with everyday Turkish home cooking.
Ingredients
- 400g cooked white beans
- 1 large onion
- 2 tbsp tomato paste
- 1 tbsp red pepper paste, optional
- 2 tbsp butter or olive oil
- 1 tomato, chopped
- 500ml stock or water
- 1 tsp paprika
- ½ tsp chilli flakes
- Salt and pepper
Optional
- 250g diced beef or lamb
How to Make Kuru Fasulye
- Cook the onion slowly in butter or olive oil until soft. If adding meat, brown it at this stage and continue cooking until tender.
- Stir in the tomato and pepper pastes followed by the chopped tomato.
- Add the beans and enough stock to create a rich stew.
- Season and simmer gently for approximately 25–30 minutes, allowing the sauce to thicken.
What Goes with Kuru Fasulye?
The classic partner is pilav, Turkish-style rice. Add pickled vegetables and fresh bread and you have a wonderfully simple meal.
It may not be the first dish tourists associate with Turkey, but it offers a glimpse of the comforting food eaten in Turkish homes.
