Tuesday, June 1, 2010

Classy Saucisse et Haricots


Hands up if you're sick of coming home after a long, hard day at work and have to think of something tasty and interesting for dinner.  Keep your hand up if you refuse to get takeaway yet again.
Good, so it's not just me.

To get around the conundrum of work/decent dinner balance, I decided to plan ahead and make a big batch of 'something' that I could freeze for later.  Luckily, I came across this idea in Donna Hay magazine (the '50th issue' issue).  I probably could have found something on my own, but I do like it when someone else does the thinking for me!

Chorizo and Beans
serves 8

Ingredients
2 tblsp olive oil
2 red onions, sliced
2 chorizo, sliced
4 cloves of garlic, sliced
2 x 400g cans diced tomatoes
1 tsp paprika
1 tsp dried chilli flakes
2 tsp dried oregano leaves (or 4 sprigs fresh oregano)
1 tblsp brown sugar
3 x 400g cans white cannellini beans
1 tblsp red wine vinegar

Method
1.  Heat the olive oil in a large saucepan over medium heat.
2.  Add the onions, chorizo and garlic, and cook for 8 minutes until the chorizo is brown and the onions are soft.
4. Add the tomatoes, paprika, chilli flakes, oregano and brown sugar.  Stir to combine, then lower the heat to medium and simmer, covered, for 5 minutes.
5.  Add the cannellini beans and heat through for 3 minutes.
6.  Serve the chorizo and beans in a bowl, with crusty bread.

Recipe adapted from Donna Hay magazine.

Other methods of serving: Stir through cooked penne pasta, or put some of the mixture into a small pie dish, top with puff pastry and bake in the oven until pastry is golden.
The chorizo and beans can also be split into smaller portions and frozen (for up to 3 months) in an airtight container or ziploc bag.  Reheat for a few minutes on the stove.

Ingredients (oregano and brown sugar not shown)

Serve with crusty bread (not shown)

While dishing the remains of this into an airtight container, I felt quite domesticated and frugal. 
 I also felt that way when buying all those cans of beans!

And don't let the name of this dish put you off - surely we can come up with something a bit more, uh, classy?
'ow about:
 "plat de saucisse et haricots"?
OR
"piatto della salsiccia e fagioli"?
OR
"la salchicha y habas"?
Vote now!

16 comments:

  1. What a classy home-made baked bean dish ...

    I think buying a can of baked beans off the shelf from Coles/Woolies is more frugal!!

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  2. Oh yes, I made a similar dish a while ago and loved it! Anything with chorizo is usually a winner though ;-)

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  3. It's the anti-takeaway, nicely done!

    The name is at least better than beans'n'sausage or snag&beans!

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  4. Easy, simple and tasty... nice XD

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  5. Yum! A great winter stew of a dish which, as u suggested, is great with some crusty bread.

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  6. How funny, I have a similar dish I make in the same circumstance. I always have chorizo in the freezer so it's easy to defrost and add to sauteed onions and garlic, bayleaf etc. Quick, easy and damn tasty with grated parmesan, olive oil & crusty bread

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  7. i am vegetarian, but i make a similar dish without the chorizo. I eat it with rice or on top of a baked potato with cheese - it is just perfect for quick and tasty food when you come home from work!

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  8. Yum Bel, this looks so hearty and delicious. I especially love the photo showing all of the healthful ingredients-makes me not only want to eat some but make some!
    Oh, yeah, it's hard to work all day and have to come home and figure out what to make...

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  9. hmm... Winter warmer! I love to have a bowl for dinner :)

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  10. You're so organised with your mise en place and photographing it! :D I love sausages and beans too :)

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  11. Great mid-week dinner! I love chorizo!

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  12. Hehe great stuff, out of cans! It's hard enough for me to try and make lunch for the week to try and stay healthy, thank goodness for still living at home with parents when it comes to dinner! Weekends are when I pull out my apron and head into the kitchen.

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  13. cool! what a hearty and yummy quick fix with heavenly tasty chorizo.
    Lovely!

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  14. How much is 2 Chorizos? precooked?

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  15. Hi Anon - that's two (2) chorizo sausages. They are usually bought pre-cured but need to be cooked as per the recipe.

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