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Porotos granados
Chilean summer stew of fresh shelling beans, pumpkin and grated corn with basil
Porotos granados is what central Chile cooks when the fresh beans arrive in late summer: tender cranberry beans shelled at the kitchen table, simmered with pumpkin until it collapses into a thick orange sauce, then finished with grated corn and basil. Families in the Valle Central eat it on hot days, often with pebre and a tomato salad; when the corn is blended in larger amounts it's called 'con mazamorra'. It's hearty but fresh-tasting, and fully plant-based. Chef's tip: add the corn only in the last 10 minutes; it's there to thicken and sweeten, and overcooked it turns floury.
- Total time
- 65 min
- Difficulty
- easy
- Serves
- 4
Ingredients
Method
0/5 doneStep 1: Heat 3 tbsp olive or vegetable oil in a large pot over a medium heat. Fry 1 onion for 6–7 minutes until soft and golden, then add 2 cloves garlic, 2 tsp sweet paprika and ½ tsp chilli flakes or merkén and stir for 30 seconds until fragrant.
7 minStep 2: Add 1 ⅓ lb fresh cranberry (borlotti) beans, 1 ⅛ lb pumpkin and 3 ¼ cups water. Bring to the boil, then simmer, partly covered, for 25–30 minutes until the beans are tender and creamy inside (10 minutes if using tinned).
30 minStep 3: Mash some of the pumpkin against the side of the pot so it melts into the broth and turns it thick and orange.
Step 4: Stir in 10 ½ oz sweetcorn kernels and half of 1 large handful fresh basil and simmer for 8–10 minutes, stirring often as it thickens. Add a splash of water if it gets too stiff; it should be spoonable, like a thick soup. Common mistake: salting fresh beans at the start; add 1 ½ tsp salt only once they're soft or they can stay firm.
10 minStep 5: Season with 1 ½ tsp salt and serve in bowls with the rest of the basil on top.
Nutrition per serving
- Calories
- 380 kcal
- Protein
- 17 g
- Carbs
- 60 g
- Fat
- 11 g
- Fibre
- 15 g
Nutrition values are estimates.
KrazyBadal
Good to know
- How long does porotos granados take?
- About 65 minutes in total: 20 minutes to prepare and 45 minutes to cook.
- How many people does it serve?
- 4 as written. Change the servings above the ingredients and every amount scales to match.
- Is it vegan?
- Yes. It has no meat, fish, dairy or eggs.
- Is it gluten free?
- Yes, as written. Check the labels on stock, sauces and spice mixes, which sometimes contain gluten.
- What can I use instead of onion?
- 2 shallots per onion.
- What can I use instead of garlic?
- ½ tsp garlic paste or ⅛ tsp garlic powder per clove.
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