Fasole Frecată
Mashed White Beans
Fasole Frecată is a traditional Romanian dish of creamy mashed white beans, often seasoned with garlic and topped with caramelized onions. It's a hearty and flavorful dish, typically served as a spread or a side dish, and is particularly popular during fasting periods or as a comforting winter meal.
🧂 Ingredients
- 500 g Dried white beans(e.g., Great Northern or Cannellini, soaked overnight)
- 2 medium Onions(1 finely chopped for topping, 1 quartered for boiling)
- 4 Garlic cloves(minced)
- 60 ml Sunflower oil(divided)
- 1 tsp Paprika(sweet or smoked)
- 1 tsp Salt(or to taste)
- 0.5 tsp Black pepper(freshly ground, or to taste)
- Water(as needed)
👨🍳 Instructions
- 1
Drain and rinse the soaked beans. Place them in a large pot with the quartered onion and cover with fresh water. Bring to a boil, then reduce heat and simmer for 60-90 minutes, or until beans are very tender. Skim off any foam that forms.
- 2
Drain the beans, reserving about 1 cup of the cooking liquid. Discard the boiled onion.
- 3
Transfer the cooked beans to a food processor or blender. Add the minced garlic, 30ml of sunflower oil, salt, and pepper. Blend until smooth and creamy, adding a little reserved cooking liquid if needed to reach desired consistency.
- 4
In a separate skillet, heat the remaining 30ml of sunflower oil over medium heat. Add the finely chopped onion and sauté until golden brown and caramelized, about 10-15 minutes.
- 5
Stir the paprika into the sautéed onions and cook for another minute until fragrant.
- 6
Spread the mashed beans onto a serving plate. Top generously with the caramelized onion and paprika mixture. Serve warm or at room temperature.
💡 Pro Tips
- ✓For a smoother texture, you can pass the mashed beans through a fine-mesh sieve.
- ✓If you prefer a richer flavor, a small piece of smoked ham hock can be boiled with the beans.
- ✓This dish can be made ahead of time and reheated gently.
✨ Twist Ideas
Inspiration for your own version of this recipe
- Some variations include adding chopped carrots or parsnips to the bean mixture before blending.
- A pinch of chili flakes can be added to the onion topping for a touch of heat.