POTAJE DE GARBANZOS (CUBAN GARBANZO BEAN STEW)

Potaje de Garbanzos (Cuban Garbanzo Bean Stew) image

Provided by Gabriela Rodiles

Time 1h

Yield 6 servings

Number Of Ingredients 12

2 tablespoons olive oil
1 medium yellow onion, medium diced
1 green pepper, medium diced
1 packet (1 1/2 teaspoons) Sazón seasoning mix with saffron
Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper
3 cloves garlic, minced
2 tablespoons tomato paste
2 tablespoons vino seco (see Cook's Note) or sherry cooking wine
Two 15-ounce cans garbanzo beans, drained and rinsed
2 large russet potatoes, peeled and large diced
6 ounces Spanish chorizo, casing removed and chorizo cut into small chunks
White rice, for serving, optional

Steps:

Heat the oil in a medium heavy pot or Dutch oven over medium-high heat. Add the onion, green pepper, Sazón seasoning, 1 1/2 teaspoons salt and a few cracks of freshly ground black pepper. Cook, stirring and scraping the bottom of the pot occasionally, until the onions are soft, about 5 minutes. Add the garlic and cook, stirring, until fragrant, about 30 seconds. Add the tomato paste and cook, stirring occasionally, until slightly darker in color and thickened, about 1 minute. Add the vino seco to deglaze the pan, scraping any browned bits with a wooden spoon.
Add the garbanzo beans, potatoes, chorizo and 5 cups of water. Turn the heat up to high and bring to a boil. Reduce the heat to low, then cover the pot and simmer until the potatoes are tender and the chickpeas are very soft, about 20 minutes. Once the potatoes have softened, use the back of a wooden spoon to crush some of them against the side of the pot to thicken the stew. Serve the stew over hot rice, if desired.