Kuru Fasulye

Kuru Fasulye is a hearty and rich Turkish stew made with white beans and diced lamb or beef slowly cooked in a tomato sauce. It is packed with lots of flavors and is the ultimate comfort dish for cold winter nights.

In Turkey, every "lokanta" (a small restaurant that serves cheap, cheerful but tasty ready-made meals) has this famous dish on its menu. I have been to one of them in Istanbul that only serves "Kuru Fasulye and Turkish Rice Pilaf" dished up together.

Kuru Fasülye is usually accompanied by some crusty Dutch Oven Sourdough Bread and Pickled Cucumber - Salatalik Tursusu. They only had the vegetarian version and it tasted so divine that we all asked for the second one!

There are many different variations of this popular bean stew and my favorite is the one cooked with lamb. You can use beef instead of lamb or add pastirma (air-dried beef popular in Turkey) for a stronger flavor.

The vegetarian version of Kuru Fasülye is as delicious as the meaty one. Add some extra vegetables such as carrots, celery, or peppers, use vegetable stock, and have a delicious vegetarian bean stew.

Why This Recipe Works?

• This delicious stew is very easy to make with a few ingredients you might have in your pantry/fridge.

• It is perfect for a lazy Sunday lunch, Kuru Fasulye comes together in only 20 minutes.

• Kuru Fasulye is the perfect comfort food for cold winter nights.

• You can prep it ahead, making it a perfect meal for a busy day.

Ingredients You'll Need

Please scroll down to the recipe card below for the full ingredients list with measurements, complete recipe method, recipe notes, and nutritional information.

• White beans - You can use any type of white beans such as navy beans, haricot, or cannellini. They all have different cooking times so make sure you cook them until soft and almost falling apart.

• Olive oil - It is necessary to sauté the onions. You can use butter instead for extra richness.

• Lamb - Any part of lamb is good for this dish but I personally like the shoulder for stews. You can also use diced beef instead but cooking time might be longer depending on the cut you use. Always prefer well-marbled beef such as chuck or brisket for slow cooking. Omit the meat to make this dish vegetarian-friendly.

• Onion - You can use a large size brown, yellow, or white onion. Peel and cut into small dice before adding to the dish.

• Garlic - Fresh garlic is a great flavoring that adds sweetness and nuttiness to dishes. You can turn it into a paste with a mortar and pestle or grate using a Microplane zester before adding it to the dish.

• Tomatoes - You can use tinned tomatoes if you don't have fresh ones. Add a teaspoon of sugar if using tinned tomatoes to balance the acidity.

• Tomato paste - It is the staple of Turkish cooking. It adds an umami flavor to the dishes and bright red color. You can find it in Turkish or Middle Eastern shops. You can also buy it from Amazon .

• Red pepper paste - Same as tomato paste, it adds an umami flavor and a bright red color to the stew. You can find it in Turkish or Middle Eastern shops. You can also buy it from Amazon.

• Stock - I use Basic Homemade Vegetable Stock for the vegetarian version. I prefer using Homemade Beef Stock but Easy Chicken Stock (Bone Broth) works great as well. You can use stock cubes if you don't have any stock in hand. Make sure you don't add too much salt as ready-made stocks and stock cubes contain salt already. Use enough liquid to cover the beans and the meat.

Step-by-Step Instructions

Kuru fasulye is an extremely delicious and warming dish that is very easy and straightforward to cook.

There are a few easy steps that you need to follow to achieve the best results:

Soak and Pre-cook the Beans

Soaking the beans overnight is necessary and helps to reduce the cooking time of Kuru Fasülye. Use plenty of water as they will double the size when soaked.

Place the beans in a large enough pan and then add plenty of cold water.

Cook the beans for about an hour or until they are "al dente". They will get cooked further with the meat. The cooking time depends on the type of bean you are using. I used haricot beans for this recipe. Drain the beans and then discard the cooking liquid.

Prepare the Tomatoey Meat Sauce

Preheat the oven to 180° C / 356 ° F. Put a Dutch oven or heavy-based pan on high heat and then add olive oil.

I prefer using a Dutch oven for stews, slow-cooked meat, or even bread. They are perfect for slow cooking because of how heavy they are. They retain and distribute heat evenly which makes them ideal for searing meat at high heat and maintaining low and slow temperatures for a long time.

When the pan is hot enough, brown the meat. Do it in batches if necessary.

Turn the heat down to medium to low, add the onions and garlic, and then sauté them until translucent.

Add the tomatoes and then stir in the tomato paste, chili (optional), and pepper paste (optional). You can add extra tomato paste if you don't have pepper paste. Also, replace red chili with chili flakes or totally skip it if you don't like spicy.

Sauté for a minute before pouring in the stock.

Add the pre-cooked beans, salt, cumin, and freshly ground black pepper.

Cover the pan with a lid or tin foil and then cook in the oven for 1 hour or until the meat and beans and the meat are soft.

Make sure to check every 20 to 30 minutes and give it a stir to provide even cooking.

Top Tip From the Chef

Use homemade stock for stews and soups for intense flavor. If you use shop-bought stock, taste your stew before adding any extra salt as they already contain some. Always add salt at the end of the cooking process for slow-cooked dishes.

Making Kuru Fasulye Ahead of Time

You can make Kuru Fasulye (Turkish White Bean Stew) ahead of time. In fact, it is often recommended to make it a day or two in advance, as the flavors tend to deepen and become even more delicious over time.

Once the stew has finished cooking, let it cool to room temperature and then store it in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3-4 days. When you are ready to serve it, simply reheat it on the stovetop over low to medium heat until it is hot all the way through.

Serving Suggestions

The traditional or most common way to serve this comforting stew is to serve it with Turkish Rice Pilaf (Sehriyeli Pilav) and some mixed pickles or a glass of Ayran (Turkish Yogurt Drink). Alternatively, you can serve them with some crusty bread or Bazlama (Turkish Flatbread).

Try with a bowl of Turkish Bulgur Pilaf With Lentils or Bulgur Pilavi (Turkish Bulgur Pilaf) for a healthier option.

Recipe FAQs

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Did you make this recipe? Please let me know how it turned out! Leave a comment below and tag @cookingorgeous on Instagram and hashtag it #cookingorgeous.

I hope you enjoy the process of making this delicious Kuru Fasulye (Baked Bean Stew with Lamb) as much as you enjoy eating it! 🙂

Bon appétit! / Afiyet Olsun! 

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