Orez shu'it is a traditional side dish originating from Israel. It was invented by the Sephardic Jews of Jerusalem. The dish is made with white beans that have been cooked in tomato paste, and once done, the combination is served over white rice while still hot.
Nowadays, it's served as a side dish in most restaurants. Sometimes, it will be enriched with the addition of fried onions or pieces of meat such as lamb, chicken, or beef.
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Faves a la Catalana is a traditional dish originating from Catalonia. The dish is made with fava beans (broad beans) that are cooked in stock with a bit of botifarra negra (blood sausage). Apart from those key ingredients, the dish also contains bacon, onions, garlic, tomatoes, white wine, olive oil, and paprika.
Faves a la Catalana was prepared since ancient times, and some of the recipes date back to the mid-19th century. Nowadays, this hearty stew is typically consumed during the harvest season (from February to late June), and it's traditionally served in an earthenware dish.
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This rustic Greek dish is prepared with a variety of mixed beans which are transformed into a hearty soup. The most common ingredients include a combination of lentils, beans, chickpeas, or fava beans, and the soup is usually seasoned with olive oil and lemon juice.
The dish is traditionally associated with Cephalonia, but similar varieties are found throughout the country.
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Pork and beans is a classic American dish made with pork and beans as the main ingredients. There are many variations on the dish, and although the origin is murky, the 1832 cookbook The American Frugal Housewife lists only three main ingredients – beans, salt pork, and pepper.
Over time, the dish was commercially available in canned versions, generally consisting of navy beans, tomato sauce, and chunks of salt pork or pork fat. Nowadays, the dish is often enriched with the addition of carrots, onions, garlic, and fresh herbs such as thyme and bay leaves, while versions prepared in the American South sometimes include ingredients such as barbecue sauce, white vinegar, paprika, mustard, and brown sugar.
Maine baked beans is a traditional dish originating from the state of Maine. It is made with a combination of Maine dry beans (usually of the Yellow Eye variety), salt pork, sugar, molasses, mustard, onion, salt, and pepper. The beans are soaked overnight, then parboiled in the morning up to the point when their skins crack when blown upon.
The onion is cut and placed on the bottom of the pan, followed by beans and salt pork on top. A combination of other ingredients is then poured over the pork and beans. The whole pot is then placed in the oven and slowly baked, typically for 6 hours or more.
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Beans on toast is a classic, straightforward dish often associated with British cuisine but enjoyed worldwide. It comprises two main ingredients: baked beans and bread toasted to perfection. The baked beans, typically navy beans in a mildly sweet tomato sauce, are heated and then poured over slices of crisp toast.
While simplicity defines the standard presentation, variations abound, allowing for the addition of cheese, eggs, or other condiments. Celebrated for its comfort food qualities, ease of preparation, and affordability, beans on toast is cherished as a meal at any time of the day, be it a hearty breakfast, a quick lunch, or a cozy dinner.
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These starchy baked beans are enriched with syrups similar to molasses in order to tenderize and sweeten them. An iconic side dish from Boston (also known as Beantown), it started its way to stardom in the 17th century when the Natives taught the early settlers how to bake beans using bear fat.
Later on, people used to fill the pots with dry beans on Saturday and leave them to cook slowly until Sunday so the beans would be tender, falling apart, and melting. The baked beans' key ingredient is molasses, making the dish sweet and rich, but it is not yet clear who added it to the dish.
Ash-e jo is a hearty Iranian soup which combines barley and various beans and lentils. It appears in numerous varieties and can be complemented with various vegetables, spices, and fresh herbs. Even though meat is easily incorporated into the soup, it is not a traditional ingredient used in the preparation of ash-e jo.
The soup is characterized by its thick texture and a slightly sour taste provided by freshly squeezed lemon juice and barberries.
Fagiolata is a true feast for bean lovers: a thick soup made with many different types of beans, each contributing to the final flavor and texture of the dish. Red beans, black beans, borlotti, cannellini, or any other varieties are slowly simmered and flavored with salt, pepper, and olive oil.
Nowadays, fagiolata is served with toasted bread, but originally it was a great way to use the old, hardened bread which was placed on the plate before pouring the hot soup in it. The soup would soak the bread, thus making it delicious and soft once again.
The star ingredients in this hearty Portuguese stew are sliced squids, white beans, and sliced chouriço sausage. These ingredients are simmered in a flavorful broth with tomatoes, carrots, white wine, and different spices such as bay leaves or chili peppers.
Feijoada de lulas is a Portuguese classic that is eaten throughout the country. It is typically served garnished with fresh cilantro and accompanied by rice.
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