Alison Roman's Spicy White Bean Stew | NYT Cooking
TLDRThe video script features a passionate cook sharing their recipe for a flavorful white bean stew, emphasizing the importance of using a variety of beans for creaminess and flexibility in ingredient selection. The cook discusses their love for canned beans and the convenience of pantry staples. The recipe incorporates elements like red onion, garlic, and olive oil, with a focus on seasoning, particularly when toasting spices. The use of broccoli rabe adds a bitter touch, while harissa provides the necessary spiciness. The cook suggests using tomato paste and chili flakes as alternatives if harissa is unavailable. The dish is thickened by crushing some beans, and the cook prefers their food spicy, adjusting the recipe accordingly. For garnish, they recommend feta cheese, yogurt, or a fried egg, and finishing with a touch of cooked olive oil. The summary encapsulates the essence of a cozy, at-home cooking experience with a personal touch.
Takeaways
- 🍲 The video features a new stew recipe that the creator struggled with due to the fear of comparison with a previous stew recipe.
- 🥫 The stew uses canned beans, with a preference for creamier beans like cannellini over starchier ones like pinto beans.
- 🌶 Harissa paste is a key ingredient, adding a spicy kick to the stew. It's important to adjust the amount according to taste.
- 🧅 The creator emphasizes the importance of seasoning, especially when frying onions and garlic, to maximize flavor.
- 🥦 Broccoli rabe is used for its texture and characteristic bitterness, which the creator enjoys in the stew.
- 🍅 Tomato paste with chili flakes can be used as a substitute for harissa paste if it's not available.
- 🥘 The initial crushing of beans helps thicken the stew, distinguishing it from a soup, which is typically brothy.
- 🌱 The stems of broccoli rabe are added first to retain their crunch, while the leaves are added later to wilt.
- 🍋 Preserved lemon is another secret ingredient that adds a salty and tangy flavor to the stew.
- 🧀 Feta cheese, yogurt, sour cream, or parmesan can be used as a garnish for added creaminess.
- 🥚 Topping the stew with a fried or medium-boiled egg is suggested for an extra layer of flavor and texture.
Q & A
Why did the speaker mention a 'secret society newsletter' in the context of white beans being sold out at Whole Foods?
-The speaker humorously suggested the idea of a 'secret society newsletter' to inform people about when certain ingredients, like white beans, are restocked at Whole Foods, as they noticed the beans being sold out when they went to shop.
What does the speaker prefer in terms of beans for their stew recipe?
-The speaker prefers creamier beans over starchier ones, specifically mentioning a preference for cannellini beans over pinto beans due to their creamier texture.
Why does the speaker dislike opening cans?
-The speaker dislikes opening cans because it is one of their least favorite kitchen tasks, finding it inconvenient and possibly difficult.
What is the speaker's stance on using olive oil in cooking?
-The speaker is not shy about using a lot of olive oil in their cooking, justifying it by stating that it contributes significantly to the good taste of the food.
Why does the speaker choose to use broccoli rabe in the stew?
-The speaker chooses broccoli rabe for its texture, which includes both the stems and leaves, and appreciates its bitter taste, which adds an interesting contrast to the stew.
What is the role of harissa in the stew recipe?
-Harissa, a spicy chili paste, is used to add spiciness to the white bean stew. The speaker emphasizes the importance of adjusting the amount according to personal spice preferences and the specific brand's heat level.
What is a substitute for harissa paste if it's not available?
-If harissa paste is not available, the speaker suggests using tomato paste with some chili flakes as a substitute, which would provide a similar balance of sweetness and spiciness.
How does the speaker modify the beans in the stew?
-The speaker lightly crushes some of the beans with the back of a spoon to thicken the stew and create a more creamy texture, while leaving some beans whole.
What does the speaker do to prepare the broccoli rabe for the stew?
-The speaker separates the leaves from the thicker stems of the broccoli rabe, allowing the stems to retain some crunchiness while the leaves wilt in the stew.
What are the speaker's 'secret ingredients' in the stew and what do they contribute?
-The speaker's 'secret ingredients' are harissa and preserved lemon. Harissa adds a spicy kick, while preserved lemon contributes a salty and tangy flavor, enhancing the stew's depth of taste.
What garnishes does the speaker suggest for the stew?
-The speaker suggests garnishing the stew with feta cheese for creaminess, but also mentions alternatives like yogurt, sour cream, or parmesan. Additionally, they recommend a drizzle of cooked olive oil for an enhanced flavor experience.
Outlines
🍲 Stew Ingredients & Preparation
The first paragraph introduces the topic of the video, which is a new stew recipe. The speaker discusses their hesitation in sharing another stew recipe due to the inevitable comparison with a previous one. They mention using ingredients from the pantry, which are flexible and interchangeable. The paragraph details the process of selecting and using different types of beans, such as butter beans and cannellini beans, for a creamier texture. It also covers the dislike for opening cans and the importance of using olive oil, garlic, and onion in the cooking process. The use of broccoli rabe for its texture and the incorporation of harissa for spiciness are highlighted. The paragraph concludes with a mention of using tomato paste and chili flakes as alternatives if harissa is not available.
🌶️ Spicy Bean Dish & Stew Transformation
The second paragraph continues with the cooking process, emphasizing the transformation of the dish from a simple sautéed bean side to a more complex stew. The speaker describes the process of lightly crushing some beans to thicken the stew and enhance its texture. They also discuss the addition of chili flakes for extra spice and the incorporation of broccoli rabe, addressing its characteristic bitterness. The importance of the harissa paste as a 'secret ingredient' is reiterated, and the use of preserved lemon for a tangy and salty flavor is introduced. The paragraph concludes with the garnishing of the stew with feta cheese and the option to add a fried egg for extra protein, finishing with a drizzle of cooked olive oil.
🎉 Embracing the New Stew & Audience Engagement
The final paragraph reflects on the audience's reception of the new stew recipe, expressing relief that viewers have shown love for multiple stew recipes rather than just one. The speaker playfully engages with the audience by mentioning various nicknames they've heard for the new stew, such as 'stew 2.0' or 'stew round two'. They encourage the audience to continue being creative and to keep pushing the envelope, appreciating their input and participation.
Mindmap
Keywords
💡White Beans
💡Harissa
💡Broccoli Rabe
💡Preserved Lemon
💡Vegetable Broth
💡Stew
💡Spice Blooming
💡Cannellini Beans
💡Feta Cheese
💡Olive Oil
💡Garnish
Highlights
The speaker mentions a shortage of white beans at Whole Foods, indicating a popular demand for the ingredient.
A humorous comparison is made between creating new recipes and having children, suggesting a sense of pressure and comparison.
The pantry is referred to as an 'old friend' when creativity is low, emphasizing the importance of staple ingredients.
Beans are highlighted as a preferred ingredient, with a preference for creamier varieties like cannellini beans.
The dislike for opening cans is expressed, revealing a personal quirk of the speaker.
The use of red onion and the color coordination with the speaker's yellow shirt is noted, showing attention to visual presentation.
Olive oil is defended as a key component of the speaker's flavorful cooking, despite the large quantities used.
Seasoning advice is given, emphasizing the importance of adding pepper early to 'bloom' the spice.
Broccoli rabe is chosen for its texture and acknowledged for its bitter taste, which the speaker appreciates.
Harissa is introduced as a spicy element, with advice to adjust the quantity based on personal spice tolerance.
An alternative to harissa is suggested for those without access, using tomato paste and chili flakes.
The process of crushing some beans for the stew is described, aiming for a mix of textures.
The importance of adding chili flake for an extra spicy kick is mentioned, catering to the speaker's preference for spicy food.
Broccoli rabe stems and leaves are prepared differently for the stew, with attention to their cooking times and textures.
The distinction between a soup and a stew is explained, with the goal of achieving a thick and creamy consistency.
Preserved lemon is introduced as a secret ingredient, adding a unique salty and tangy flavor to the stew.
Garnishing options are discussed, including feta for creaminess, offering alternatives for different dietary preferences.
The use of cooked olive oil as a finishing touch is described, adding a different flavor dimension to the stew.
The speaker expresses a renewed confidence in the audience's love for stews, beyond just one favorite recipe.
Transcripts
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