RomanianMedium · Hot
White Bean and Pork Belly Stew with Paprika and Carrot
A hearty Romanian-style white bean stew with slow-simmered pork belly, bloomed sweet paprika, and bright lemon — rustic, frugal, and deeply comforting.
Prep
15 min
Cook
2h
Total
2h 15m
Method
Soak Beans
1
Rinse the white beans under cold water and soak them overnight in plenty of water. Drain and set aside.
Brown the Pork Belly
2
Heat the olive oil in a Dutch oven or stockpot over medium-high heat. Add the cubed pork belly and cook, stirring occasionally, until browned on all sides and the fat has rendered, about 8–10 minutes.
3
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4
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Finish and Serve
5
In a small bowl, mix the cornstarch with 2 tablespoons of cold water until smooth. Stir it into the simmering stew to lightly thicken the broth.
7
Ladle into deep bowls and finish each portion with a spoonful of yogurt stirred in at the table. Serve with crusty bread alongside.
C
Nutri-Score
Fair balance
A–E · lower is better · score 9
Calories
705
per serving
High in saturated fat · 15gCalorie-dense · 705 kcalLow sugar · 4g
Protein
21g
Carbs
41g
Fat
52g
Sat. fat
15g
Fiber
5g
Sugar
4g
Sodium
687mg
Nutri-Score is a general nutritional-balance guide, not medical or dietary advice.
C
Environmental impact
Moderate impact
A–E · lower is better · includes estimates
kg CO2e
1.2
per serving
CCarbonAEU all-round· carbon sets the grade
Water
0.6m³
Runoff
0.09g P
Pork Belly, cubed drives 85% of this recipe’s estimated footprint.
Carbon from Poore & Nemecek 2018; water, land & runoff from Agribalyse — modelled averages for comparing recipes, not a measurement of your groceries.
Flavor Profile
8
Umami
5
Sweet
5
Salty
7
Sour
1
Bitter
3
Spicy
Textures
TenderSilkyCreamySoft
Aromas
SmokyHerbalSavoryPorkyGarlicky
Kitchen Equipment
Primary Tool
Dutch OvenCounter FootprintMedium
Techniques
Safety & Storage
Cooking Temperature
Cook pork belly to minimum internal temperature of 145°F (63°C) with 3-minute rest time. When blooming paprika, stir constantly and remove from heat if fat starts to smoke to prevent burning.
Cross Contamination
Use separate cutting boards for raw pork and vegetables. Do not add yogurt garnish directly from the container—dish out the portion first to prevent contamination.
Storage
Cool stew to room temperature within 2 hours, then refrigerate in airtight containers for up to 4 days. Reheat leftovers to 165°F (74°C) throughout before consuming.
High Risk Population
Children under 5, elderly, pregnant individuals, and immunocompromised persons should only consume fully reheated stew. Yogurt garnish should be freshly served and not left at room temperature for more than 2 hours.
Handling
Drain and rinse soaked beans thoroughly before cooking. Discard soaking water as it may contain compounds that cause digestive discomfort. Never taste or eat beans that are still firm—they must be completely tender.
Allergen Warning
Verify chicken broth ingredient label for hidden allergens (celery, wheat, soy) if serving to individuals with severe food allergies. Use certified gluten-free cornstarch if cooking for those with celiac disease or gluten sensitivity.
Pro Tips
Technique
When you bloom the paprika, add it and stir constantly for exactly one minute — you want that sweet warmth to open up in the fat, not burn and turn bitter. If it starts to smoke, you're already too late, my friend.
Substitution
No pork belly? Use pork shoulder cut into cubes — it won't be as rich, but the stew will still hug you the same way. And if you have real borș instead of lemon, use it. You will taste the difference.
From the chef
In Cluj, my grandmother never let a pot of beans go to waste — she simmered them low with whatever pork she had, bloomed paprika until the whole apartment smelled like Sunday, and always, always finished with a hard squeeze of lemon because borș was hard to find. This stew is my Barcelona version of those afternoons: cheap white beans, pork belly that melts into the broth, and that same sour brightness that makes homesick Romanians remember they are still fed, still whole.
TagsHeartyComfort FoodSlow SimmeredOne PotPork BellyWhite BeansPaprikaWinter WarmthBudget FriendlyCommunal Dining
AllergensMilkGluten
Source: generated · June 10, 2026