Italian Bean Stew

This is the ultimate comfort food - a rich broth and creamy beans, full of late summer vegetables.

Italian Bean Stew

1 large red onion, finely chopped
3 large garlic cloves, minced
1 large eggplant, peeled and cubed
2 courgettes, finely sliced and then chopped
1 - 2 red or yellow capsicums (bell peppers) cored, deseeded and chopped
2 tins of chopped Italian tomatoes
1 cup vegetable stock
1 Tsbp balsamic vinegar
1/2 tsp sugar
1 cup dried white beans, soaked overnight (cannellini beans are lovely)
1 tsp mixed spice
8-10 basil leaves, chopped
salt and pepper to taste

In a large saucepan coated in spray oil saute the onion, garlic and eggplants until they soften. Add the remaining ingredients except the basil, and cook for approximately 2 hours, until the beans soften. (will be less if you are using tinned beans). Taste and season, stir through the basil and serve.

This is ideal over spaghetti or polenta, and freezes very well.

Caramelized Onion Calzone

Calzones are one of my favourite things to eat, being the carb addict that I am. You can fill them with all sorts of leftovers, so they are a great budget dish. In case you don't know what I am on about check out this one at Jamie Oliver's site.

Tonight was the best ever - I filled mine with some canned kidney beans, caramelized onions, feta cheese and mozzarella cheese. Not an exceptionally healthy dinner but great for a treat, and they go well with a huge green salad.

Here's my recipe for calzone dough. This will make enough for four hungry adults!

1 c lukewarm water
2 t active dry yeast
1 t salt
1/2 t sugar
3 c flour - a mix of wholemeal and white is lovely
2 Tbsp olive oil

In a bowl, combine the water, yeast, salt and sugar, and stir to dissolve. Set aside in a warm place for 15 minutes, then add the flour, and mix until smooth. Turn the dough out onto a floured board and knead for 5 minutes, adding more flour if necessary.

The dough should feel smooth and elastic. Lightly oil a bowl, pop the dough inside and cover. Let rise in a warm place until doubled in size, about 1 hour.

Cut the dough into 4 pieces, and roll each piece out into a large circle. I use a small dinner plate and cut around it to get a neat calzone. Place the filling in the middle and fold over, using your fingers to pinch the dough together. Use a fork to pierce some holes for the steam to escape, and then bake for 20-25 minutes.

Bean burgers

You don't have to use these patties for burgers, but they are scrummy this way especially served with especially served with caramelised onions and lots of crunchy lettuce and tomato. To freeze these, spray a muffin tin with oil, then fill each muffin hole with mixture. Freeze, then pop them out into a ziplock bag, and you have 'free flow' bean patties.

The food processor makes light work of these

Bean Burger Patties

1 x small onion
1 x tin of cannellini or butter beans
1 x tin of red kidney beans
1 egg (optional but it does make them bind nicely) or 2-3 Tbsp tomato sauce if vegan
3 slices of wholemeal bread, or 3/4 cup fresh breadcrumbs
1/2 tsp chilli powder
handful of green herbs ... coriander or parsley is my favourite
flour, if needed to get the patties to bind

Place all the ingredients in the food processor and blitz before shaping

Mexican pinto beans

Ole ... pinto beans are delicious beans but they need serious cooking so its a good one when you are home all day. This is another great recipe for the freezer, and I imagine it would be brilliant in the slow cooker!

1 small onion, diced
1 large clove garlic, minced
1 cup of dried pinto beans, soaked in water overnight
1 tsp each ground coriander cumin
1/2 tsp cayenne pepper (to taste)
1 tin chopped Italian tomatoes
1 cup vegetable stock
1 diced capsicum (any colour will be fine)
1/2 tsp sugar

In a large frypan sprayed with oil brown the onion and garlic. Add the spices then the beans, tomatoes, stock, capsicum, and sugar. Cook for 4 hours stirring occassionally minutes until the beans are tender. Add salt at the end to taste.
Serve with rice and sour cream, and a big fresh salad.