Traditional South African Bean Soup

Ingredients

• 500 g dried sugar beans, soaked overnight
• 500 g beef shin or stewing beef
• 2 tbsp cooking oil
• 2 large onions, chopped
• 3 carrots, peeled and chopped
• 2 celery stalks, chopped
• 2 potatoes, peeled and cubed
• 2 tbsp tomato paste
• 2 litres beef stock or water
• 2 bay leaves
• 1 tsp dried thyme
• salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste

Method

1. Drain and rinse the soaked beans.
2. Heat the oil in a large heavy-based pot and brown the beef in batches.
3. Add the onions, carrots and celery and cook until the onions begin to soften.
4. Stir in the tomato paste and cook for 1 minute.
5. Add the beans, stock, bay leaves and thyme.
6. Bring to the boil, reduce the heat and simmer gently for about 2 hours until the beans and meat are tender.
7. Add the potatoes and continue cooking for about 30 minutes until soft.
8. Remove the bay leaves and shred any large pieces of beef.
9. Mash a small portion of the beans against the side of the pot to naturally thicken the soup.
10. Season with salt and black pepper and serve piping hot.