Balkan bean stew with kielbasa: a perfect hearty stew for these unstable spring days. Quickest version yet. No roux. And no wait for the beans to soak. Just a quick boil and they're ready for cooking. Easily a GLUTEN-FREE option.
Grah or pasulj, or the bean stew, is a staple meal in the Balkans.
All of us go through a grah graduation of sorts. We like it as children. Hate it as teenagers and young adults.
At maturity, we finally come to a place of understanding that grah is as Balkan as the pita itself.
There are different variations. Here is the one with kielbasa. As always, if making it for someone from the area, check whether they eat pork. If not, use a chicken kielbasa.
Variations: use a gluten-free kielbasa for a gluten-free meal.
Although not a stew or a soup, soft and moist BAKED ROMANO BEANS will leave you breathless, and we promise they're the most perfect side dish on Balkan Lunch Box.
We've also explored Macedonian baked beans in a pan. We've got a fast version for you called TAVČE GRAVČE, as a well as a more traditional version you can find here: GRAVČE NA TAVČE (BEANS IN A PAN).
Our favorite bean stew recipe though, is the CLASSIC BALKAN BEAN SOUP/ STEW. Are we blowing your mind yet? Happy cooking!
Recipe by Samir H.
Bean Stew with Kielbasa
Ingredients
- 10.5 ounces dry beans navy, red kidney or other
- 2 tablespoons butter
- 1 yellow onion medium, diced
- 2-3 garlic cloves minced
- 2 carrots medium, diced
- 1 9- oz kielbasa pork, turkey or chicken, cut into ½ inch rounds
- 1 tablespoon parsley minced
- 2 bay leaves
- ¼ teaspoon ground pepper or peppercorn
- 1 bouillon cube or Vegeta
- Optional 1 tablespoon paprika
Instructions
- In a deep pot, cover beans with water and bring to boil on high. Lower to medium and boil for 5 minutes. Strain, wash well, and discard the water. Set aside.
- In a pressure cooker* heat butter on low to medium. Add onion, garlic and carrot and simmer, stirring frequently. Add kielbasa and stir again. Add seasonings and continue stirring. Fill up the pot with 4-5 cups of water. Add beans and close the pressure cooker.
- After the first steam, cook beans for about 20 minutes (or use the stew setting on your pressure cooker).
- Serve warm.
Video
Notes
*If using a regular pot, cooking time will be longer. The beans are done when they're soft, but not falling apart, about 60-90 min.
VARIATIONS:
Gluten-free: use gluten-free kielbasa and bouillon cube. Vegeta is gluten-free.
Low-carb: use a low-carb kielbasa.
Natasha @ Salt and Lavender says
This looks so tasty!! Reminds me of food I had growing up 🙂
Aida says
Thanks Natasha, and welcome to the blog! I look forward to checking yours out as well. 🙂
Sajra says
Hi Aida,
can I use canned beans instead? I don't have a pressure cooker, could I still use a regular pot?
Aida says
Hi Sajra,
You can use a regular pot but cook the beans a longer period of time, about 60-90 minutes. You can check to see whether it's done by testing the beans - they'll soften when the stew is done. I've never used canned beans. Dry ones that have been soaked beforehand are generally better. They take longer to cook, so the flavors of the kielbasa and beans really come together. If you use canned beans it won't take as long to cook, but the taste might not be as deep and flavorful.