Skip to main content

Beef and White Bean Stew With Cumin

Beef and White Bean Stew in 2 bowls with a larger pot on top
Photograph by Emma Fishman, food styling by Mieko Takahashi, prop styling by Tim Ferro
  • Total Time

    3 hours 20 minutes

This homey one-pot stew—from Leah Koenig’s latest cookbook,Portico: Cooking and Feasting in Rome’s Jewish Kitchen—is much brighter than its short ingredient list might indicate. That’s all thanks to the technique of slowly building layered flavor with beef fond, aromatics, spices, and acidic tomatoes.

This stellar dish is akin to beef chili and a hallmark of Rome’s Libyan Jewish cuisine, which, as Koenig writes, “boasts an abundance of meat, vegetable, and legume-based stews—saucy, spicy medleys that pair perfectly with couscous.” This version includes tomatoes, cumin, and hot paprika, giving it particularly deep, warm flavors. “With a mix of tender beef and white beans swimming in a velvety sauce,” Koenig adds, “it is a staple on Shabbat and holiday tables.”

All products featured on Epicurious are independently selected by our editors. However, when you buy something through our retail links, we may earn an affiliate commission.

What you’ll need

Ingredients

6 servings

3 lb. boneless beef chuck roast, excess fat trimmed, cut into 2" pieces
1½ tsp. Diamond Crystal or 1 tsp. Morton kosher salt, plus more
2 Tbsp. (or more) extra-virgin olive oil
1 large onion, finely chopped
5 garlic cloves, finely chopped
1 Tbsp. plus 1½ tsp. Hungarian hot paprika or ½ tsp. crushed red pepper flakes
2 tsp. ground cumin
Freshly ground pepper
3 Tbsp. double-concentrated tomato paste
2 15-oz. cans cannellini (white kidney) beans, rinsed
1 cup tomato purée
Steamed couscous and finely chopped parsley (for serving)
  1. Step 1

    Pat3 lb. boneless beef chuck roast, excess fat trimmed, cut into 2" pieces, dry with paper towels and season generously withkosher salt. Heat2 Tbsp. extra-virgin olive oilin a large Dutch oven or other heavy pot over medium-high. Working in batches and adding more oil between batches if pot looks dry, cook beef, turning occasionally, until golden brown, about 5 minutes. Transfer to a plate.

    Step 2

    Reduce heat to medium and add1 large onion, finely chopped, and5 garlic cloves, finely chopped, to pot. Cook, stirring often, until onion is softened and golden, 6–8 minutes. Add1 Tbsp. plus 1½ tsp. Hungarian hot paprika or ½ tsp. crushed red pepper flakes,2 tsp. ground cumin, and1½ tsp. Diamond Crystal or 1 tsp. Morton kosher salt; season generously withfreshly ground black pepper. Cook, stirring often, until spices are fragrant, about 1 minute. Stir in3 Tbsp. double-concentrated tomato paste.

    Step 3

    Return beef along with any accumulated juices to pot. Pour in 4 cups water and bring to a boil. Immediately reduce heat to low, partially cover pot, and cook, stirring occasionally and adjusting heat as needed to maintain a simmer, until beef is tender and liquid is slightly thickened, 1½–2 hours.

    Step 4

    Uncover pot and stir intwo 15-oz. cans cannellini (white kidney) beans, rinsed, and1 cup tomato purée. Bring stew back to a simmer. Reduce heat to low, partially cover, and cook, stirring occasionally and adjusting heat as needed to maintain a simmer, until beef is very tender and stew is thick, 45–60 minutes. Taste and season with more salt and black pepper if needed.

    Step 5

    Dividesteamed couscousamong shallow bowls and ladle stew over. Top withfinely chopped parsley.

    Do ahead:Stew can be made 3 days ahead. Let cool; cover and chill.

Read More
Beef and White Bean Stew With Cumin
This homey one-pot stew boasts a short ingredient list but tons of complex flavors, built over three hours in a mostly hands-off braise.
Pasta e Fagiolini
This tomatoey vegetarian pasta from Southern Italy makes the most of green beans.
Creamy Rabbit Bolognese
This cozy pasta is a twist on a white Bolognese, with no tomatoes in sight. Swap in chicken legs if you prefer—rabbit tastes a lot like dark meat poultry.
One-Pot Chicken and Biscuits
This easy chicken and biscuits recipe is made with only one bowl and one skillet.
Black Pepper Beef Stew
This succulent beef and black pepper stew is a set-it-and-forget-it meal finished with bright, fresh peas.
Spicy Rigatoni With Pork Sugo
使this spicy rigatoni your new go-to Sunday sauce. The meaty sauce has a host of flavor enhancers not often found in traditional sugos.
Avgolemono Seafood Stew
Inspired by Greek avgolemono, this versatile stew is a seafood party with a lemony punch in a creamy broth enriched with eggs.
Smothered Chicken With Cheesy Polenta
Crispy on the outside and juicy on the inside, this smothered fried chicken with polenta and herb gremolata is perfect for a dinner party.