CREAMY WHITE BEAN PUREE WITH CARAMELIZED ONIONS

A comforting traditional dish featuring slow-cooked white beans blended to a smooth puree, flavored with garlic, smoked paprika, and topped with golden caramelized onions. Served best with tangy sauerkraut salad for a hearty and balanced meal.

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🕒 Prep Time: 15 minutes

🍳 Cook Time: 45 minutes
🍽️ Servings: 4

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Ingredients

• 500 g dried white beans
• 3 garlic cloves, crushed
• 2 large onions, thinly sliced
• 1 tsp smoked paprika
• 3 bay leaves
• Salt and black pepper, to taste
• Cooking oil

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Instructions

1. Rinse and soak beans if desired. In a large pot, cook beans with plenty of water and bay leaves. Once the pot whistles (boils vigorously), continue cooking for 45 minutes until beans are tender.
2. Drain beans, reserving about 1 cup of cooking water. Discard bay leaves.
3. In a food processor or meat grinder, puree the cooked beans with crushed garlic, salt, and pepper. Gradually add reserved bean water until the puree reaches your preferred consistency (about half a cup added).
4. In a deep pan, heat about 2 cm of oil. Sauté sliced onions with a pinch of salt over medium heat until softened and lightly golden. Remove onions and set aside.
   Optional: For a milder onion flavor, chop the sautéed onions finely and stir them back into the bean puree before serving.
5. In the same pan with remaining oil, add the bean puree and cook over low heat, stirring frequently until the oil is fully absorbed and the mixture is smooth and cohesive.
6. If the puree is too thick, add more bean cooking water to loosen it. Adjust seasoning with salt and pepper.
7. Serve the bean puree topped with caramelized onions, accompanied by sauerkraut salad dressed simply with oil and freshly cracked black pepper.

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💡 Tips

• Bay leaves add subtle aromatic depth to the beans.
• Use smoked paprika for a rich, warm flavor.
• Gradual addition of bean water helps control puree thickness.
• Pairing with tangy sauerkraut balances the creamy beans perfectly.

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🎉 Perfect For

• Hearty vegetarian or vegan meals
• Traditional Eastern European comfort food
• Side dish to roasted or grilled meats

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📝 Final Thoughts

This creamy white bean puree with caramelized onions is a simple yet satisfying dish that warms the soul. The smoky paprika and sweet onions create depth, while the sauerkraut adds refreshing acidity for a balanced plate.