Name: Summer runner bean stew
Prep time: 10 min
Cook time: 30 min
Total time: 40 min
Yield: 4
Ingredients: 50ml olive oil; 1 large onion thinly sliced; 280g runner beans; 4 garlic cloves thinly sliced; 4 anchovies plus a drizzle of oil from the can (optional); 2 pinches of chilli flakes (optional); 400g large vine tomatoes chopped; 4 oregano sprigs leaves picked, or 1 tsp dried oregano; 1 tbsp red wine vinegar; 2 tsp caster sugar; 400g can cannellini or butter beans drained; handful of basil leaves picked; 2 tbsp extra virgin olive oil

Summer runner bean stew

Enjoy this summer stew with chunks of bread for dunking. It’s also perfect alongside lamb cutlets or white fish

40 min total 10 min prep 30 min cook 4 291 cal

Instructions

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1 Heat the oil in a large pan over a low-medium heat. Add the onion with a pinch of salt and cook slowly until caramelised, about 15 mins.
2 Meanwhile, prep the runner beans. If the runner beans are young and small, simply slice on the diagonal. If they are older, they will have a tough string running along each side. To remove, trim the stalk end and pull away the fibrous strings, then slice on the diagonal.
3 Add the garlic, anchovies and chilli flakes, if using, to the onion. Cook for a few minutes, stirring often, until the anchovies have dissolved, and the garlic is cooked but not browned.
4 Add the runner beans, tomatoes, oregano, vinegar, sugar and a good pinch of salt. Cover and cook for 15 mins over a low heat, stirring often, until the tomatoes have broken down and the beans are soft.
5 Add the cannellini or butter beans to the pan, fill the can halfway with water and add this, too. Cook for another 10 mins uncovered, until the liquid has reduced a little. Check the seasoning and stir in the basil leaves. Serve with a generous drizzle of extra virgin olive oil and an extra pinch of chilli flakes, if you like.