A taste of my home

Fabada Asturiana

Have you ever had Fabada Asturiana? If you have, you know how good it is, and if you have not, I am so glad to be the one to introduce it to you! This is a hearty fabes (white bean) and sausage stew that I consider the national dish of Asturias...and if you don’t consider Asturias a nation, you should read some Spanish history!

You will find this stew bubbling and simmering on the stoves of many, many cooks in this quiet northern corner of Spain where I am from. It’s a simple, rich, and filling meal that for me feels and tastes like home. 

Recently, when I took my daughters to Asturias while filming our show, José and Family in Spain, I got a little emotional. It is such a part of who I am, and a way for me to open my little part of the world to them, and now to you. 

One thing I want to make sure I mention before you go shopping for this recipe is the ingredient that makes this dish so amazing. It is the fabes beans. It’s worth finding them, even though they are some of the most expensive beans anywhere. Because they have this magic ability to keep their shape after hours of stewing and cooking, but they still have a thin skin. So they are delicate and strong at the same time. (Just like Asturias?) 

I think this will become a dish that you will make over and over again all winter long. It is so good on a cold night with a big piece of crusty bread, or for lunch, on a windy day when you need to get warm from the inside out. Make it for someone you love, or come into Jaleo if you live in Washington, DC, Chicago or Las Vegas and have some! 

Fabada Asturiana