Recipe: Potato-Bean Stew

Serves 6. (Makes about 12 cups.)

Note: Serve with grated fresh, mild white cheese, toasted pepitas (pumpkin seeds), crema and/or minced cilantro. The stew can be refrigerated for up to 5 days. Plan ahead if you are cooking the dried beans (will need to soak overnight and cook for a couple of hours). Adapted from Mollie Katzen's "The Heart of the Plate: Vegetarian Recipes for a New Generation."

• 2 tbsp. olive oil

• 1 large onion, chopped (1 1/2 to 2 c.)

• 2 tsp. chili powder, preferably chipotle chili powder, plus more as needed

• 1 tsp. ground cumin

• 1 large sweet red bell pepper, seeded and cut into small dice

• 2 garlic cloves, minced

• 1 1/2 tsp. salt, or more as needed, divided

• 1 1/2 lb. Yukon Gold potatoes, scrubbed well and cut into 1-in. chunks

• 1 c. bean-cooking liquid or water, plus more as needed

• 3 c. drained home-cooked pinto beans or 30 oz. canned, no-salt-added pinto beans, rinsed and drained (see below for cooking pintos)

• Freshly ground black pepper

• Juice from 1/2 to 1 lime

Directions

Heat a Dutch oven or soup pot over medium heat for about 1 minute, then add the oil and swirl to coat. Add the onion, chili powder and cumin; cook for 5 minutes, stirring often.

Add the bell pepper, chile peppers (to taste), garlic and 1 teaspoon salt; cook for 5 minutes, stirring a few times. Stir in the potatoes and the remaining 1/2 teaspoon salt. Reduce the heat to low; cover and cook for 5 minutes, stirring once or twice. Add the bean cooking liquid or water, cover and cook for 15 to 30 minutes, or until the potatoes are tender but not mushy. Add more cooking liquid or water if the mixture seems dry.

Taste and season generously with the black pepper, plus additional salt and/or chili powder, and the lime juice (to taste). Serve hot.

To cook dried beans: Wash beans and soak overnight in water (2 to 3 cups per 1 cup beans). Drain and place in pot with water or broth to cover (3 cups liquid to 1 cup beans). Bring to a boil, simmer and cook 1 1/2 to 2 hours, or until soft, adding more water if needed so beans are always covered in liquid.

Nutrition information per serving:

Calories300Fat6 gSodium730 mg

Carbohydrates50 gSaturated fat1 g