Traditional Chilean Dishes
Chilean Bean Stew with Noodles
A hearty and comforting Chilean stew, with soft beans, creamy squash, noodles, and the traditional flavor of sausage. Ideal for enjoying hot on cold days.
Bean stew with noodles is a classic of Chilean country cuisine. In Chile, beans are beans or broad beans, while the "noodles" are the long noodles that run through the dish. This version retains a creamy texture thanks to the squash and a broth full of homemade flavor.
01
Ingredients
Have everything ready before you begin.
- ✓500 grams of dried beans
- ✓500 grams of squash, peeled and cut into pieces
- ✓200 grams of noodles
- ✓2 sausages, optional
- ✓1 large onion, chopped into small cubes
- ✓2 cloves of garlic, finely chopped
- ✓1 tablespoon of sweet paprika or chili powder
- ✓1 teaspoon of cumin
- ✓1 teaspoon of dried oregano
- ✓2 tablespoons of oil
- ✓Salt and pepper to taste
- ✓Approximately 2 liters of hot water
02
Step-by-step method
- 01
The night before, place the dried beans in a large container, …
The night before, place the dried beans in a large container, cover them with plenty of cold water, and let them soak for 8 to 12 hours.
- 02
The next day, completely remove the soaking water and rinse …
The next day, completely remove the soaking water and rinse the beans under running water.
- 03
Put the beans in a large pot and add approximately 2 liters …
Put the beans in a large pot and add approximately 2 liters of hot water, so that they are covered by several centimeters.
- 04
Bring the pot to a boil
Bring the pot to a boil. Then, reduce the heat, partially cover, and cook over medium-low heat for about 45 minutes, until the beans start to soften without being fully cooked.
- 05
While the beans are cooking, prepare the sauce
While the beans are cooking, prepare the sauce. Heat the oil in a pan and cook the onion over medium heat for about 5 minutes, until it is soft and slightly transparent.
- 06
Add the garlic and stir for about 30 seconds, without letting it …
Add the garlic and stir for about 30 seconds, without letting it burn.
- 07
Add the paprika, cumin, oregano, and a bit of pepper
Add the paprika, cumin, oregano, and a bit of pepper. Cook for 1 minute over low heat to aromatize the spices.
- 08
Cut the sausages into slices and add them to the sauce
Cut the sausages into slices and add them to the sauce. Cook them for a few minutes, until they are lightly browned and have released some of their flavor.
- 09
Carefully add the sauce to the pot with the beans
Carefully add the sauce to the pot with the beans. Also add the squash and mix well.
- 10
Partially cover the pot and continue cooking over medium-low heat …
Partially cover the pot and continue cooking over medium-low heat for 20 to 30 minutes. Stir occasionally, passing the spoon through the bottom to prevent the preparation from sticking.
- 11
When the beans are tender and the squash can be easily mashed …
When the beans are tender and the squash can be easily mashed, taste the broth and add salt to taste. Mash some pieces of squash against the side of the pot and mix them with the broth, keeping some pieces whole.
- 12
Add the whole noodles or broken in half, depending on the size of …
Add the whole noodles or broken in half, depending on the size of the pot. Stir immediately to prevent them from sticking.
- 13
Cook the noodles for the time indicated on the package, usually …
Cook the noodles for the time indicated on the package, usually between 8 and 12 minutes, stirring frequently.
- 14
If the preparation becomes too thick, add small amounts of hot …
If the preparation becomes too thick, add small amounts of hot water until a creamy and juicy texture is obtained.
- 15
Taste again and adjust the salt, pepper, or spices if necessary
Taste again and adjust the salt, pepper, or spices if necessary.
- 16
When the noodles are cooked but still slightly firm, turn off the …
When the noodles are cooked but still slightly firm, turn off the heat and let the bean stew with noodles rest for a few minutes.
- 17
Serve immediately
Serve immediately. If desired, accompany with a bit of Chilean hot pepper.
- Soaking for 8 to 12 hours helps the beans to hydrate, cook faster, and become softer.
- Use clean water for cooking and avoid adding cold water during the process, as it can interrupt cooking.
- Stir especially the bottom of the pot when the broth starts to thicken.
- The sausage is optional; you can eliminate it to prepare a meatless version.
- Don't leave the noodles too dry: they will continue to absorb broth during rest.
- It's not necessary to puree all the squash; mashing only some pieces adds creaminess and preserves the texture of the stew.