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LOBIO (Dried Beans With Herbs)Ìý

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SERVES 4-6

PREP 25 minutes, plus 12 hours soaking

COOK 1.5 - 3hrs

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Lobio, is prepared in a myriad of ways in Georgia and feature at almost every meal. They are at their best when cooked over a wood fire but they also benefit from being baked or simmered gently in traditional Georgian clay pots. The Georgians have many varieties of bean, including Tsiteli Lobio and Sulispira.Ìý Although they favour dark, kidney shaped beans, I find it’s more important to use thin-skinned beans whose skins almost dissolve when cooked. So don’t be afraid to use borlotti or other premium beans as they’ll make the texture and flavour better. This recipe adds vibrant fresh herbs to the mix: half are added during cooking and the rest at the end. The Georgians always serve fermented or pickled vegetables or blossoms when they serve Lobio, as a counterpoint. If you don't have the marigold petals, leave them out!

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350g dried kidney, borlotti or other fine-skinned beans

200g chopped onion

2 tablespoonsÌýdried marigold petals or ground marigold petals

15g/4 garlic cloves, chopped

30g chopped fresh coriander

¼ tsp dried summer savory or thyme

1 tsp salt

¼ tsp dried chilli flakes

30g cup chopped fresh herbs, a mix of mint, green and purple basil, summer savory, celery leaves and parsley

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Soak the beans overnight in good clean water (filtered, if possible). Drain, rinse well and turn the beans into a large saucepan. Cover them with two fingers of water and bring to the boil. After about 15 minutes, when the beans start producing foam, pour the beans and water into a colander and rinse the beans again. Cover them with fresh water and boil for 1 hour, skimming off any foam that appears.

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Add half each of the onions, marigold petals, Ìýgarlic and chopped coriander to the beans. Stir in the dried summer savory or thyme, the salt, and chilli. Continue cooking until the beans are soft – anything from 30 to 60 minutes or more. If the water gets low add more to keep the beans covered by about two fingers of water.

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When the beans are soft and beginning to fall apart, taste them for salt and chilli, adding more if necessary (the chillies should only add a subtle hint of heat). Stir in the remaining herbs and garlic and cook gently for 10 minutes more. Check for seasoning again before serving.

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