Fabada Austurianas

Louis Pujol's Note:

an authentic recipe of the spanish dish, fabada. i enjoy the dish for it's rich, meaty flavor which comes from the broth that contains saffron and juices from the meats. fabada beans are a special white bean that is grown ONLY in Austurias, Spain so it's very hard to obtain which makes it a little expensive.

• Total Time: 3 hrs 15 mins
• Prep Time: 15 mins
• Cook Time: 3 hrs

Ingredients:

Servings: 8

• 1 lb fabada beans
• ½-¾ lb cooking type ham , NOT sweet
• 1 g saffron
• 8 pieces chorizo sausage (one per person)
• ½ cup olive oil
• 1 chopped onion
• 1 pinch salt , to taste
• ½ cup butter , 1 stick (optional)

Directions:

1. *Soak beans overnight. Make sure they are fully covered in water.*.
2. Cut ham into 1" cubes.
3. Add ham, except 2 pieces of ham, and 6 chorizo into pot of water.
4. Bring to boil and then reduce heat.
5. Drain beans.
6. Pour olive oil and onions in pot with beans and stir over medium high heat.
7. Add 2 chorizos and 2 pieces of ham.
8. Add water just to cover the beans. Let it boil then reduce heat to medium low- low.
9. Stir in saffron.
10. Cover pot, but not tightly.
11. Cook for 2 - 2 1/2 hours or until beans are soft.
12. Check often to ensure water is still covering beans. When the water level is too low, add the water from the pot of meats.
13. Stir pot of beans with a wooden spoon occasionally.
14. Check taste and salt and butter as desired.
15. Drain pot of meats and then serve fabada with the meats.
16. Enjoy!

Reviews

[Da Huz]

Mmm... ethnic comfort food! I didn't have access to traditional beans so I used "great northern" beans and it was still delicious. The combo of chorizo, ham, and beans was very satisfying, and anything saffron in it is good! I served this with a spinach, walnut and manchego salad. I did not need the extra butter because our chorizo had enough fat in it.