Turning homesteader's new england baked beans into stew: what veggies to add?

yirara
yirara Posts: 9,933 Member
in Recipes
Looking for veggie ideas. Tomorrow and for the following days I want to cook a stew based on a homesteader's new england baked beans kind of dish. I have no idea what the original is, but the recipe I have is a bit sweeter than the original according to the text, also contains smoked paprika. I'll add shredded chicken and am looking for some veg to add for a proper stew pot. Any idea? I guess paprika would fit, but I just cooked chili con carne with lots of paprika. I don't see cauliflour in this. shredded cabbage and carrot? Hmm..

Replies

  • AnnPT77
    AnnPT77 Posts: 34,176 Member
    edited January 9
    Carrot, sure. Bell pepper? Whole hominy or sweet corn kernels? Celery or chunks of celeriac? Summer squash? Winter squash (one of the firm types)? Maybe sweet potato (or is that too sweet?)?

    I think the base will be too sweet for this, but chopped up dill pickles are surprisingly good in bean soup.
  • yirara
    yirara Posts: 9,933 Member
    Hmm.. I'm actually thinking now of adding sauerkraut. Not sure this will work but it's worth a try.
  • Hobartlemagne
    Hobartlemagne Posts: 548 Member
    This is by no means New England, but my go-to veg group is called the 3-sisters in the American southwest. Beans/Corn/Squash (zucchini).

    A little gardening trivia- they were planted in the same hole. The corn stalk gave something for the bean vines to grow on, and the big leaves of the squash gave good ground cover to help prevent soil drying.
  • AnnPT77
    AnnPT77 Posts: 34,176 Member
    Hobartlemagne wrote: »
    This is by no means New England, but my go-to veg group is called the 3-sisters in the American southwest. Beans/Corn/Squash (zucchini).

    A little gardening trivia- they were planted in the same hole. The corn stalk gave something for the bean vines to grow on, and the big leaves of the squash gave good ground cover to help prevent soil drying.

    The beans also fix nitrogen, part of the mutually beneficial relationship.
  • acpgee
    acpgee Posts: 7,950 Member
    I am thinking in terms of texture and flavour for stretching a sweet baked beans recipe into a stew.

    1. For texture I am thinking root vegetables that compliment hearty but soft beans such as celeriac, parsnip, carrot, radishes, daikon, kohlrabi, even potato. Also squashes as long as they are not too sweet.

    2. For flavour I am thinking of nuggets of neutrality or bitterness to offset the sweetness. Again, daikon, radishes, parsnip, celeriac, kohlrabi.

    3. Thinking of other bean based stews such as chilli con carne and cassoulet, I would also consider tinned tomatoes for acidity and as a thinner.

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