Give this cozy Fabada Asturiana a try, it's a comforting white bean soup that's packed with rich, creamy beans and flavorful Spanish chorizo, all cooked slowly with aromatic spices. This hearty dish combines tender Asturian beans, savory chorizo, and juicy meats, making every bite full of delicious flavors. Fabada Asturiana is the perfect way to enjoy a taste of tradition and warmth in every spoonful.
This dish is called Fabada Asturiana because it's a classic from the Asturias region. Traditionally, it’s made with Asturian fava beans and blood sausage, chorizo and pork belly.
This white bean stew is the perfect comfort food, delicious and filling, it'll warm you right up! It’s so tasty, your guests will love it and it’ll disappear off the table in no time!
I’m a big fan of stew, especially during the winter! There's nothing better than a meal that keeps you warm and satisfied at the same time!
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⭐Why You'll Love This Fabada Asturiana (White Bean Soup)
- Cozy Comfort Food: Fabada Asturiana is the ultimate cozy meal. It's warm, hearty, and feels like a hug in a bowl, perfect for chilly days or when you need something comforting.
- Your Way: While it’s a traditional dish, you can make it your own. Swap the sausages or tweak the spices to match your taste without losing its charm.
- Even Better Later: This dish gets even tastier the next day as the flavors come together beautifully. Make it ahead for an easy, delicious meal whenever you’re ready.
- Made for Sharing: Fabada is perfect for bringing people together. Its rich flavors and generous portions make it ideal for family dinners or gatherings with friends.
- A Taste of Spain: Enjoy a little piece of Asturias, Spain, with every bite. It’s a simple and delicious way to explore Spanish flavors and traditions right at home.
🧾Fabada Asturiana Ingredients
Here’s the breakdown of what’s in this fabada asturiana recipe:
- White Beans (Fabes or Cannellini): These creamy beans are the heart of the dish. They soak up all the rich, smoky flavors from the broth and meats, making every bite irresistible.
- Onion and Garlic: Onion adds a natural sweetness and depth, balancing the smoky richness, while garlic gives a savory kick that ties everything together.
- Pork Belly, Chorizo, and Black Pudding (Morcilla): These bring all the flavor! Pork belly melts into the stew with its tender texture, chorizo adds bold, smoky spice and black pudding brings a unique earthy richness that makes the fabada unforgettable.
- Extra Virgin Olive Oil: A drizzle of olive oil adds a fruity, peppery touch and enhances the saffron and paprika flavors beautifully.
- Saffron and Paprika: Saffron adds a golden hue and subtle floral notes, while smoked paprika brings warmth and a signature Spanish smokiness to the dish.
- Salt: Just the right pinch of salt brings out the best in every ingredient, balancing the sweetness, smokiness, and richness.
- Water: Simple water transforms into a flavorful broth, blending everything into a hearty, delicious stew.
See the recipe card below for a full list of ingredients and measurements.
👩🏻🍳How to Make Fabada Asturiana
These step-by-step instructions and photos will help you to visualize how to make this recipe. See the recipe card for a printable version of this recipe.
1. Soak white beans in plenty of water overnight, then drain and rinse well.
2. Place the soaked white beans in a large pot, cover with cold water, and add diced onion.
3. Toss in garlic, pork belly, and chorizo into the pot. Bring the mixture to a boil over medium-high heat.
4. Simmer for 30 minutes, skim off any impurities, and degrease for a few minutes.
5. Cook on medium-high heat for 30 minutes, then simmer and add cold water, olive oil, saffron, paprika, and salt. Cover and cook for 2–2.5 hours until tender.
6. Occasionally shift the beans around. Introduce cold water twice to "startle" them (interrupt the boiling to ensure perfect cooking).
7. Add the black pudding and cook for 30 minutes. Slice the chorizo, black pudding, and pork belly, then cook briefly to blend the flavors.
8. Once everything is thoroughly cooked and the flavors have blended, your fabada asturiana is ready to be served.
🍽 What to Serve with Fabada Asturiana
This fabada asturiana is super hearty and satisfying, but I love pairing it with some crusty ciabatta or garlic bread to soak up all that delicious broth.
For sides, you can’t go wrong with a simple tomato salad, pasta salad, potato salad, or even a tuna salad.
And for dessert? Treat yourself to something sweet like natillas or arroz con leche, pure bliss!
💭Tips for Success
Soak the Beans: Let the beans soak overnight in plenty of cold water to soften them and remove any starch or impurities. Remember to toss out the soaking water before cooking to keep the flavors fresh.
Skim the Foam: As the beans boil, skim off any foam or impurities that float to the top. This keeps your broth clear and tasty.
“Frighten” the Beans: Add cold water twice while cooking to stop the boil briefly. This trick helps the beans cook evenly without falling apart.
Cook Slowly: After boiling, lower the heat and let everything simmer gently for 2–2.5 hours. Slow cooking lets the beans soak up all the rich flavors.
Remove Extra Fat: Skim off any extra fat from the top as the stew cooks. This keeps the dish flavorful but not greasy.
Rest Before Serving: Let the fabada sit for a little while before serving. The flavors deepen and come together beautifully during this time.
Store and Reheat: Leftovers? No problem! Keep them in the fridge for up to 3 days. Reheat gently on the stove, adding a bit of water if the stew seems too thick.
❓Commonly Asked Questions
Cassoulet is a French bean stew featuring meats like pork sausages and duck, while Fabada is a Spanish bean stew known for its use of chorizo, morcilla (blood sausage), and a touch of saffron.
🍛More Spanish Recipes to Try!
Love this Fabada Asturiana (White Bean Soup)? You’ll also enjoy these delicious Spanish recipes:
- Easy Homemade Meatballs
- Spanish Paella Valenciana
- Gazpacho
- Spanish Omelette
- Garlic Shrimp (Gambas al Ajillo)
- Papas Arrugadas with Mojo Sauce
- Chicken Skewers (Pinchitos de Pollo)
- Spanish Lentil Soup
🍛More Comfort Food Recipes!
Here are more of my favorite comfort food recipes! Try these:
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📖 Recipe
Fabada Asturiana (White Bean Soup)
Ingredients
- 400 g White Beans
- 1 Onion
- 3 Garlic Cloves
- 250 g Pork Belly
- 100 g Chorizo
- 100 g Black Pudding
- 2 tablespoon Extra Virgin Olive Oil
- Pinch of Saffron
- 1 tablespoon Paprika
- 1 ½ teaspoon Salt
- 2-3 l Water
Instructions
- Soak the white beans overnight in plenty of water.
- Drain and rinse the beans.
- Place the soaked and drained white beans in a large pot and cover with cold water.
- Cut the onion and place it in the pot.
- Add garlic, pork belly, and chorizo to the pot. Bring the water to a boil in high-medium heat.
- Cook for 30 minutes, skim and remove all impurities, and degrease for a few minutes.
- After half an hour of cooking over high-medium heat, reduce the heat to a simmer and add cold water, extra virgin olive oil, saffron, paprika, and salt.
- Cover and cook the beans for 2–2.5 hours until they are tender. The cooking time may vary depending on the type and size of the beans.
- Moving them from time to time. Add cold water, twice, to “frighten” them (break the boil to help them cook perfectly).
- Add the black pudding and cook for 30 minutes.
- Cut the chorizo, black pudding, and pork belly into slices and cook for a few minutes to allow the flavors to meld together.
- Once everything is well-cooked and the flavors have melded, your Fabada Asturiana is ready to be served.
- Serve it hot on a deep plate.
Notes
Nutrition
Nutritional information is based on third-party calculations and should be considered an estimate only. Actual nutritional content will vary based upon brands used, measuring methods, cooking method, portion sizes, and more.
John says
I've always wanted to try Fabada Asturiana. The beans and sausage combo sounds absolutely delicious!