
Fabada Asturiana
Fabada Asturiana is the crown jewel of Asturian cuisine — a deeply satisfying, slow-cooked white bean stew loaded with smoky Spanish sausages and cured meats. Thick, velvety beans absorb the rich, paprika-laced broth from chorizo, morcilla, and lacón, creating one of Spain's most comforting and iconic dishes. This home version uses dried fabes (or large dried white beans) and a patient, gentle simmer to coax out maximum depth of flavor. Best made a day ahead — it only gets better overnight.
6 servings · Prep 20 min · Cook 150 min · Total 170 min
Spanish · Soup · Dinner
Ingredients
Open in recipe scaler →- 500 g dried fabes de la granja soaked overnight in cold water
- 2 piece Spanish semi-cured chorizo whole links, not sliced
- 2 piece morcilla (Spanish blood sausage) whole links, handled gently
1 onion peeled, left whole
4 cloves garlic peeled, left whole
1 tsp sweet smoked paprika (pimentón dulce)
2 tbsp extra virgin olive oil
1 pinch saffron threads lightly crushed between fingers
1 tsp fine sea salt adjust at the end — cured meats add salt
2 cup cold water to keep beans submerged
Equipment
Stovetop
Mixing Bowl
Pot
Wooden Spoon
Lid
Knife
Ladle
Cutting Board
Mixing Bowl (4 Quarts)
Colander
Instructions
- The night before (or at least ~[8 hours ahead]), drain and rinse the dried @[Fabes de la Granja soaked overnight in cold water], then place them in a large #[Mixing Bowl] and cover generously with @[Cold Water]. Let them soak overnight at room temperature. They will roughly double in size.
- Drain the soaked @[Fabes de la Granja soaked overnight in cold water] and transfer them to a large, heavy-bottomed #[Pot]. Add the whole @[Spanish semi-cured chorizo links, not], @[Morcilla Spanish blood sausage links, handled gently], lacón, and jamón serrano in one layer over the beans. Nestle in the whole @[Onion peeled, left] and @[Garlic peeled, left] cloves. Drizzle over the @[Extra Virgin Olive Oil].
- Pour in enough @[Cold Water] to cover everything by about 2 inches (roughly ~[6–8 cups]). Do NOT add @[Fine Sea Salt] yet — this keeps the bean skins tender.
- Bring the #[Pot] to a gentle boil ^[over medium heat]. As it heats up, skim off any grey foam that rises to the surface using a #[Ladle] or #[Wooden Spoon]. This takes about ~[10 minutes] and is key to a clean, clear broth.
- Once the foam has been skimmed, reduce the heat to the lowest possible simmer — the surface should barely tremble, not bubble actively. Add the @[Sweet Smoked Paprika] and @[Saffron threads lightly crushed between fingers] (if using). Cover the #[Pot] with the lid slightly ajar.
- Simmer gently ~[for 1 hour], then carefully remove the @[Morcilla Spanish blood sausage links, handled gently] (blood sausage) and set it aside. It cooks faster than the other meats and will fall apart if left in too long. Continue simmering the rest of the #[Pot].
- Continue simmering ~[for another 60–90 minutes], until the @[Fabes de la Granja soaked overnight in cold water] are completely tender and creamy all the way through with no chalky center. Throughout cooking, if the liquid drops below the level of the beans, add small splashes of @[Cold Water] (the 'susto' or 'shock' technique — adding @[Cold Water] in small amounts helps the beans absorb liquid evenly and keeps the broth creamy). Never stir vigorously; gently swirl the #[Pot] by the handles instead.
- Once the @[Fabes de la Granja soaked overnight in cold water] are tender, remove the @[Spanish semi-cured chorizo links, not], lacón, and jamón serrano. Discard the whole @[Onion peeled, left] (or mash it into the broth for extra body). Slice the meats into thick, generous pieces.
- To thicken the broth naturally, remove a #[Ladle]ful of cooked @[Fabes de la Granja soaked overnight in cold water] and mash them to a paste, then stir them back into the #[Pot]. This creates the signature thick, velvety consistency of a true fabada. Taste and season with @[Fine Sea Salt] now.
- Return the sliced @[Morcilla Spanish blood sausage links, handled gently] and all the other sliced meats to the #[Pot]. Let everything rest together off the heat ~[for at least 15 minutes] before serving — this allows the flavors to meld beautifully. For best results, cool completely, refrigerate overnight, and reheat gently the next day.
- Serve in deep bowls with the @[Fabes de la Granja soaked overnight in cold water] and broth ladled first, then the sliced meats arranged on top. Accompany with crusty bread and a glass of Asturian cider or a robust red wine.











