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Meat, European

Fasolka po bretońsku with bread

Fasolka po bretońsku is a Polish dish of white beans simmered in tomato sauce with smoked sausage and bacon. It serves 4, takes 50 minutes, and stays very easy to make, for €2.20 per person. The key is a slow simmer that lets the sauce thicken and the smoky flavors soak into the beans.

Tonight, a Polish cafeteria classic, fasolka po bretońsku, white beans in tomato sauce with smoked sausage and bacon, served with bread.

Fasolka po bretońsku with bread
Total time
50 min
Difficulty
Very easy
Cost per person
€2.20
Calories per person
740 kcalcalculated by Kiloach, your weight coach
Season
Winter, Fall
The kids
They generally like it

Fasolka po bretońsku is the Polish version of stewed white beans, a staple of cafeterias and family kitchens alike. Smoked bacon and sausage give the tomato sauce a deep, smoky edge, while canned beans soak up every bit of that flavor as they simmer. The result is hearty and a little rustic, nothing like the plain white beans you might be used to.

This is the kind of dish to make on a weeknight in fall or winter, when you want something warm and filling without spending hours in the kitchen. Kids usually love the sausage and the mild tomato sauce, and the whole thing gets eaten with a spoon and plenty of bread for mopping up the sauce. Mon Chou suggests it for exactly those evenings when you want something simple that still tastes like it took effort.

The ingredients

4 people

Pantry

  • Canned white beansoften in the pantry 1.2 kg
  • Crushed tomatoesoften in the pantry 400 g
  • Tomato pasteoften in the pantry 2 tbsp
  • Sweet paprikaoften in the pantry 1 tsp
  • Dried marjoramoften in the pantry 1 tsp
  • Sunflower oiloften in the pantry 2 tbsp
  • Saltoften in the pantry 1 pinch
  • Pepperoften in the pantry 1 pinch

Butcher

  • Smoked sausage 300 g
  • Smoked bacon bits 150 g

Fruits and vegetables

  • Onions 2
  • Garlic 3 cloves

Bakery

  • Country bread 8 slices

Allergens Gluten

The step by step recipe

  1. Rinse and drain the beans, slice the sausage into rounds, and finely chop the onions.

    Rinse until the water runs clear, the sauce will taste cleaner.

  2. Cook the bacon in the oil, add the onions and garlic, and let them turn golden. 8 min

    The bacon will release fat, so don't add too much oil.

  3. Add the sausage and let it brown, then stir in the tomato paste, paprika, and marjoram. 5 min

    Cook the tomato paste for a minute to take away its sharp edge.

  4. Pour in the crushed tomatoes and beans, stir, season lightly with salt, add pepper, and let it simmer covered. 25 min

    Mash a few beans against the pot to thicken the sauce.

  5. Serve in deep bowls with country bread.

    This dish tastes even better reheated the next day.

Our tips to get it right

  • Pick a sausage with real smoky character, like kielbasa or a smoked Polish style sausage, since it carries most of the flavor.
  • Keep the pot covered while it simmers, but take the lid off for the last five minutes if the sauce looks too thin.
  • Taste before adding extra salt, the bacon and sausage already bring plenty.

The variations

  • Swap the smoked sausage for mild chorizo for a spicier version with a slightly different texture.
  • For a vegetarian version, skip the sausage and bacon, add a bit of smoked paprika and mushrooms to keep that deep flavor.
  • To save time, use pre-chopped frozen onion and skip the long browning step for the bacon, five minutes is enough.

What to serve it with

  • Crusty bread for mopping up sauce
  • Pickles for a tangy crunch
  • A crisp cabbage salad

Storage

Fasolka po bretońsku keeps for 3 days in the fridge in a sealed container. It freezes well for up to 2 months, thaw in the fridge before reheating. Reheat gently over low heat with a splash of water if the sauce has thickened too much.

Questions about this dish

Can I use dried beans instead of canned?

Yes, soak them overnight and cook them for about an hour before adding them to the sauce. Canned beans stay the more practical choice for a quick weeknight version.

What sausage works best for this recipe?

A Polish style smoked kielbasa gives the most authentic flavor. A smoked pork sausage from your local butcher works just as well if you can't find kielbasa.

Can this dish be made ahead?

Yes, and it's actually better that way since the flavors deepen as it sits. Make it the day before and reheat gently, it only improves overnight.

Is this dish good for kids?

Yes, the sausage and mild tomato sauce are usually a hit with kids. You can cut back on the paprika a bit if you want a milder flavor.

How long does it take to make a fasolka po bretońsku, white beans in tomato sauce with smoked sausage and bacon, served with bread?

Count 50 min in total, prep and cooking included. The recipe is rated “very easy”.

How many calories are in a fasolka po bretońsku, white beans in tomato sauce with smoked sausage and bacon, served with bread?

About 740 kcal per serving, for a recipe meant for 4 people. Calories are calculated by Kiloach, your weight coach, the app that partners with Mon Chou.

How much does a fasolka po bretońsku, white beans in tomato sauce with smoked sausage and bacon, served with bread cost?

About €2.20 per serving, or €8.80 for 4 people, based on average supermarket prices.

What allergens does this recipe contain?

This recipe contains gluten. Always check the labels of the products you buy.

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