Jani me fasule (Bean soup)

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An easy bean soup from Albania.

Ingredients

• 400 g dry white beans such as haricot beans, soaked overnight
• 1 litre stock or water
• 150 g onions, chopped
• 100 ml olive oil
• 2 tablespoons tomato purée
• Chilli powder, to taste
• 1 tablespoon mint, chopped or 1 teaspoon dried mint
• 1 tablespoon parsley, chopped
• Salt, to taste

Method

1. Boil beans in hot water in an uncovered pan for 5 minutes.
2. Rinse and boil for another 15 minutes, covered, in the hot stock or water.
3. Sauté the onion in the olive oil until it turns golden.
4. Add 2 tablespoons bean stock from the pot along with the tomato purée, and chilli powder for taste.
5. Cook for 10 minutes or until a thick sauce is formed, then pour everything into the pan containing the beans.
6. Cover, and simmer for 2 hours over low heat, stirring in the salt, mint and parsley just before the end of the cooking time.
7. Serve hot.

Serving suggestions

Serve with some country bread.

Variations

Use any single or combination of onions you wish. I made this with some rather vicious spring onions and a little red onion.