What makes this stew smoky? A few drops of liquid smoke, some smoked paprika, and chipotle chile powder. If you plan to include chipotle and you have dried chipotles in your pantry, cut them into small pieces using kitchen shears, soak them in hot water in a a glass measuring cup, and add it all when you add the broth. Inspired by a recipe from Rancho Gordo (consider getting your dried beans from them, and, if you’re a bean addict, join their bean club!).
Ingredients
- dried large white beans, soaked and drained, or canned white beans, rinsed and drained
- homemade vegetable broth, store-bought broth, or water
- olive oil
- onion, chopped
- poblano chile, chopped, or celery, sliced
- red cabbage, shredded
- red wine or dry sherry
- liquid smoke
- canned diced tomatoes
- smoked paprika
- chipotle chile powder (see note; optional)
- minced garlic
- sprigs of fresh rosemary or dried rosemary
- fresh sage leaves, sliced, or dried sage
- miso or kosher salt
Method
- Using an Instant Pot, pressure cooker, large covered saucepan, or however you cook dried beans, cook the soaked beans in broth or water to cover until completely soft. Drain, reserving the bean cooking liquid.
- In the same pot or a large soup pot, warm olive oil over medium heat. Add the onion and poblano or celery, stir, and cook until softened. Stir in the cabbage and cook until it starts to soften. Add a few splashes of wine or sherry, a few drops of liquid smoke, the tomatoes, paprika, and chipotle chile powder or soaked chipotles with soaking water. Bring to a boil, lower the heat a bit, cover, and cook, stirring occasionally, until the vegetables are completely soft. Add the cooked beans with the reserved bean broth or the canned beans, plus more vegetable broth or water to reach your consistency of choice. Add the garlic, rosemary, and sage and bring to a simmer.
- Remove from the heat. If using miso, fill a glass measuring cup with some of the stew broth, add the miso, and whisk until completely dissolved, and stir into the stew. Taste and adjust the seasoning and serve.
Veghead, Etc. 