Croatian Army Beans Recipes

CROATIAN BEAN SOUP (GRAH I VARIVAH)

Steps:

• Gather the ingredients.
• Drain the soaked beans, rinse them, and drain again.
• Place in a large pot and add 12 cups fresh cold water. Bring to a boil, reduce heat to a simmer, and skim off any foam that rises to the surface.
• Add garlic, onion, smoked sausage of choice, smoked ribs or meaty smoked ham hocks, bay leaf, salt, pepper and Vegeta seasoning powder to taste.
• Return to a boil, reduce heat, and simmer, partially covered, for 2 to 3 hours or until beans and meat are tender. Add water as needed, while cooking, stirring occasionally.
• Remove bay leaf and discard. Remove bones from rib meat or hocks and return meat to the pot. If soup isn't thick enough, continue to simmer until desired consistency is achieved.

CROATIAN ARMY BEANS

Steps:

• Soak beans overnight in water. Wash the beans and put it in fresh cold water unit it boils. Cook it for 10 minutes, change the water, and cook for more 20-30 minutes. Remove beans and put it in cold water.
• Melt the lard in the pot and add the sliced onion. Sauté the onion until it is soft. Add minced pancetta and sauté it for 5 more minutes, than add garlic. Sauté it for 1-2 minutes and add flour. Sauté it until the flour is slightly brown and than add paprika and chilli.
• Add water gently and make a cream of all ingredients. Than add beans and bay leaf and water to cover the beans. Cook for 1 hour on very gently fire. (in Croatia we have special sausages "cesnjovke" which we put in this beans and cook all together, but you can put any kind of smoked, dried meat - pork or beef).
• Very important to know is that you do not add chilli or any kind of hot paprika afterwards. Hot paprika must be cooked from the very beginning or you will suffer from very bad digestive process. We in Croatia always drink alcohol if we eat something hot, otherwise, you'll also have very bad digestive process. This meal is very good during cold winter, it renews your strength.

CROATIAN BAKED BEANS CASSEROLE ("ZAPECENI GRAH")

Steps:

• Soak beans day before cooking.
• In the morning, cook beans until soft, do not overcook it.
• Slice leek into thin slices across and sauté it on lard until softens. Add flour and some water to make creamy liquid. Add paprika (hot and sweet), stir and add beans. Add water and stir. Cook just until boils. Remove from fire.
• Slice tomato into round slices. Slice Pepper into round slices. Slice pancetta thin.
• Take clay pot and put some this pancetta slices on the bottom. Pour all beans over. On the top arrange tomato slices, pepper slices and over all pancetta slices. Usually, ingredients on the top depends on season: if there is no tomatoes, than no tomatoes. Bake in hot oven on 180°C about 30 minutes, or when you see crusty top.