World Flavors Cookbook

Bob Chorba

Bulgaria's national bean soup — a thick, paprika-spiced white bean soup with carrots, tomatoes, and spearmint.

Cuisine: Bulgaria

Ingredients

• 500g dried white beans, soaked overnight
• 2 onions, diced
• 2 carrots, diced
• 1 red pepper, diced
• 2 tbsp tomato paste
• 2 tsp sweet paprika
• 1 tbsp dried spearmint
• 3 tbsp sunflower oil
• Salt, pepper

Instructions

1. Boil beans in fresh water for 5 minutes. Drain and rinse.
2. Return to pot with fresh water. Simmer 40 minutes.
3. Sauté onion, carrot, and pepper in oil. Add paprika and tomato paste.
4. Add vegetables to beans. Simmer until beans are very soft, 30-40 minutes.
5. Add spearmint, salt, pepper. Serve with a hot pepper on the side.