Name: Prebranac (Serbian Baked Beans)
Prep time: 30 min
Cook time: 45 min
Total time: 75 min
Yield: 8 Servings
Cuisine: Serbian
Ingredients: butter beans: 600 g; onion peeled roughly chopped: 600 g; paprika: 2 table spoons; garlic cloves finely chopped: 2 pcs; Bay leaves: 4 pcs; Olive oil: 4 table spoons; Salt: 1 tablesppon; Black pepper: a pinch

Ingredients

600 g butter beans

600 g onion peeled roughly chopped

2 table spoons paprika

2 pcs garlic cloves finely chopped

4 pcs Bay leaves

4 table spoons Olive oil

1 tablesppon Salt

a pinch Black pepper

Directions

Prebranac or baked beans is one of the most famous and popular dishes in Serbia. In almost every gastronomic guide through Serbia, you will find prebranac marked as a dish you must try. I personally completely agree with that recommendation. You will find prebranac on the menus of numerous restaurants in Serbia.

It is an incredibly tasty dish that is very simple and quick to make. It is made from beans, onions, garlic, paprika, with the addition of salt and pepper.

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Due to its composition and taste, it is very popular among vegetarians. In its original form, no meat goes into it. However, like with all the traditional dishes, there are countless variations. Some of them include meat, such as smoked bacon, sausages, etc.

The name prebranac came from the words prebrati ili prebirati (to pluck, to plunk). It is a dish that looks nice only when all the beans are the same size and the same kind.

Prebranac Origin

It is widely accepted that it was created by the farmers during the long winters. Today it is a common meal during the holidays, such as Christmas Eve and Patron Saint Day.

It is also believed that the beans were brought to Serbia by the Turks, most likely in the 17th century. Let’s not forget that beans are a plant of the New World and until the 16th century were unknown in Europe. There are similar dishes to Turkish cuisine today. And not just in Turkey. In neighbouring Macedonia, there is a very popular dish gravce na tavce – very similar to prebranac.

Likewise, there is a dish called Cassoulet in French cuisine. Although similar to prebranac, Cassoulet is a much more complex dish that includes meat and more vegetables.

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It is interesting to note that in Serbia there is the saying “simple as beans”, which has the same meaning in English as “easy as pie” and French “simple comme chou”.

You can serve it warm or cold, as a standalone meal or as an addition to other dishes. Personally, I prefer warm, freshly baked prebranac with pljeskavica – another traditional Serbian dish.

I got this recipe a few years ago when I was in Niš, a city in southern Serbia.

Steps

1 Done	Pick/separate/ the beans by separating the uneven and damaged grains, then place them in water for several hours until they are swollen. After the beans are swollen, rinse everything and cook.
2 Done	When the water boils throw out the boiling water and replace it with new clean water. Pour clean water only a few centimetres over the beans and bring to a boil. Cook until softened but be careful not to overcook. The beans must be whole and soft. Also, make sure that the beans do not burn, they should cook on low heat. Of course, you can use canned butter beans instead.
3 Done	While the beans are cooking, heat the pan and sauté onions until golden brown. Add in the salt, pepper and garlic.
4 Done	When the beans are cooked, strain the water and mix with the sautéed onion and paprika.
5 Done	Pour the mix into a deep ceramic pan, add the oil and bay leaves and bake for about 45 minutes at 180-200 degrees.