Butter Beans with Chestnuts

1. Sauté Onion

Begin by heating the olive oil in a wide saucepan over medium heat. Add the chopped onion and fry it gently until it turns soft and translucent, releasing its natural sweetness and flavor.

2. Add Garlic

Next, add the finely chopped garlic to the pan. Stir it in, cooking just until its fragrance fills the kitchen, which should only take a minute or so. Be careful not to let the garlic brown.

3. Introduce Chestnuts and Spices

Now, it's time to introduce the chestnuts, along with the cinnamon stick, cloves, a pinch of salt, and a few grinds of black pepper. Add enough water to cover the chestnuts, then simmer the mixture. If you’re using frozen chestnuts, allow them to simmer for about 10-15 minutes until they become tender. If using vacuum-packed chestnuts, a shorter simmer will suffice.

4. Add Butter Beans

Once the chestnuts are tender, stir in the drained butter beans or navy beans. Let everything cook together for another 5 minutes, giving the beans time to heat through and absorb the aromatic flavors from the chestnuts and spices.

5. Finish with Olive Oil

Finally, serve the dish by drizzling it with a generous splash of extra virgin olive oil. This last touch of richness rounds out the flavors beautifully, making the dish perfect for a warm, comforting meal. Enjoy your Andalusian Butter Beans with Aromatic Chestnuts hot, straight from the pan to the serving dish.