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Lobio salad of red beans

Red Bean Lobio Salad

A salad spin on the famous Georgian dish. This tasty, vegan-friendly red bean lobio, inspired by the classic Georgian recipe, is a treat for anyone who loves healthy, wholesome food. It comes together quickly and easily if you start with canned beans.

Maria

Recipe author

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Composition / ingredients

Servings:

Red kidney beans

200

Walnuts

Bell pepper (red)

Garlic

Cilantro (1 bunch)

Bay leaf

Sunflower oil

Khmeli-suneli

0.5

Chili pepper (a knife tip's worth)

Salt

Translation table of volumetric measures

Nutrients and energy value of the composition of the recipe

By weight of the composition:

Proteins 17 % 6 g

Fats 54 % 19 g

Carbohydrates 29 % 10 g

236 kcal

GI: 100 / 0 / 0

Cooking method

Step 1:

To make red bean lobio salad, you'll need: 200 g (about 1 cup) red kidney beans; 40 g walnuts; 1 red bell pepper; 2 garlic cloves; 1 bunch of cilantro; 1 bay leaf; 3 tbsp sunflower oil; 1/2 tsp khmeli-suneli; a knife tip's worth of chili pepper; and salt to taste.
Step 2:

Sort and rinse the red beans. Cover them with cold water and let them soak overnight.
Step 3:

Drain the soaking water, put the beans in a pot, cover with fresh water, and cook until tender. Season with salt at the end.
Step 4:

Drain the cooked beans in a colander and let them dry.
Step 5:

Cut the bell pepper into strips.
Step 6:

Chop the walnuts.
Step 7:

Peel and finely chop the garlic.
Step 8:

Wash the cilantro, dry it, and chop it finely.
Step 9:

Heat the oil in a skillet. Add the bell pepper, garlic, and a pinch of salt, and sauté for 3–4 minutes.
Step 10:

Add the khmeli-suneli, chili pepper, bay leaf, and a pinch of black pepper. Cook everything together, stirring, for about 5 minutes.
Step 11:

Add the beans, walnuts, and cilantro to the skillet and stir to combine.
Step 12:

Cook the lobio for another 2 minutes, then take the skillet off the heat.
Step 13:

Spoon the lobio onto plates and serve. It's delicious warm or cold. Enjoy!

As the legend goes, Queen Tamar was the first to taste this dish during one of her military campaigns. Having lost their supply train, the soldiers grew so weak they could barely stand to march on or head home. They stopped to rest by a river, where a woman and her son lived in a small hut. The warriors asked for food, but robbers had ransacked the house, leaving only beans and a few spices — hardly enough to revive exhausted men. So, after drinking some water, they lay down to sleep. They were awakened by the incredible aroma of beans, garlic, herbs, and onion: the woman's son had cooked it, hoping to win the queen's favor. Despite the dish's simplicity, the queen — accustomed to fine fare — tried it and was amazed. She asked the young man, "What is this food that gives such remarkable strength?" "Lobio," he replied. The army was able to continue on its way, and lobio came to be served to the noblest and wealthiest of all.
Translated literally, "lobio" means beans, and the name covers any dish built on cooked beans. This red bean lobio is a lean, vegan-friendly dish that works well on a vegetarian menu.
Every oil is only good up to a certain temperature — its smoke point, the point at which it starts to burn and form harmful compounds. Choose an oil with a high smoke point for frying.
Since everyone's tolerance for salt, sweetness, bitterness, heat, and acidity is different, always add spices and seasonings to your own taste. If you're using a seasoning for the first time, go easy — some, like chili pepper, are especially easy to overdo.