Croatian Army Beans

[Burt Blank]

[Mod.Edit: Recipe moved to a new Recipe thread]

Epazote is the famous Mexican anti flatulence herb that you add to bean dishes to stop farting. My wife grew it in the UK for that purpose. Mrs Blank claims it saved our marriage. One of my favs here.
CROATIAN ARMY BEANS

• 1 kg beans (preferable Croatian "tresnjevec" beans, but you can use any kind - avoid canned)
• 1 large onion (finely minced)
• pig-fat
• 1 slice of bacon (Croatian "pancetta") finely minced plus pancetta skin for taste
• 2 garlic cloves (finely minced)
• 2 teaspoons paprika (dried grounded)
• flour
• Chili (to taste)
• 1 bay leaf
• salt, pepper, water

PREPARATION

1. 1. Soak beans overnight in water. Wash the beans and put it in fresh cold water unit it boils. Cook it for 10 minutes, change the water, and cook for more 30 minutes. Remove beans and put it in cold water. Melt the pig-fat in the pot and add the onion. Sauté the onion until it is soft. Add minced pancetta and sauté it for 5 more minutes, than add garlic. Sauté it for 1-2 minutes and add flour. Sauté it until the flour is slightly brown and than add paprika and chili. Add water gently and make a cream of all ingredients. Than add beans and bay leaf and water to cover the beans. Cook for 1 hour on very gently fire. (in Croatia we have special sausages "cesnjovke" which we put in this beans and cook all together, but you can put any kind of smoked, dried meat - pork or beef). Very important to know is that you do not add chili or any kind of hot paprika afterwards. Hot paprika must be cooked from he very beginning or you will suffer from very bad digestive process. We in Croatia always drink alcohol if we eat something hot, otherwise, you'll have very bad digestive process. This meal is very good during cold winter, it renews your strength.