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Vegetarian, Maghreb and Middle East

Lobio with cornbread

Lobio is a Georgian red bean stew simmered with garlic, walnuts and cilantro, served with homemade cornbread. It serves 4, takes 50 minutes, is easy to make, and costs about €1.60 per person. The trick is mashing part of the beans, which thickens the sauce without any cream.

Tonight we're heading to Georgia with red beans simmered with garlic, walnuts and cilantro, and warm cornbread for scooping.

Lobio with cornbread
Total time
50 min
Difficulty
Easy
Cost per person
€1.60
Calories per person
630 kcalcalculated by Kiloach, your weight coach
Season
Winter, Fall

Lobio has a flavor that catches you off guard the first time, soft red beans, a hit of garlic, crunchy crushed walnuts, and the sharp freshness of cilantro stirred in at the end. It's a winter dish that warms you up without feeling heavy, nothing like the tomato based bean stews you might be used to.

This is the kind of vegetarian meal that feeds a whole family on a weeknight, for about €1.60 a person, using mostly pantry staples. Warm cornbread, pulled from the oven right alongside the stew, turns this simple dish into a real sit down moment, perfect for dipping and sharing.

The ingredients

4 people

Pantry

  • Canned red kidney beansoften in the pantry 800 g
  • Walnuts 80 g
  • Fenugreek or paprikaoften in the pantry 1 tsp
  • Red wine vinegaroften in the pantry 1 tbsp
  • Olive oiloften in the pantry 3 tbsp
  • Cornmealoften in the pantry 150 g
  • Flouroften in the pantry 100 g
  • Baking powderoften in the pantry 1 packet
  • Saltoften in the pantry 1 pinch

Fruits and vegetables

  • Onions 2
  • Garlic 3 cloves
  • Fresh cilantro 1 bunch

Dairy

  • Egg 1
  • Milk 20 cl

Allergens Gluten, Lactose, Eggs, Tree nuts

The step by step recipe

  1. Cook the sliced onions in the oil until soft, then add the garlic and spices. 8 min

    Take your time, well browned onions give the whole dish its sweetness.

  2. Add the drained beans and a glass of water, let simmer over low heat and mash a few of the beans with a fork. 15 min

    Save a bit of the liquid from the can, it helps thicken the sauce.

  3. Meanwhile, mix the cornmeal, flour, baking powder, salt, egg and milk, then pour into an oiled baking dish.

    The batter should be thick but pourable, don't overmix it if you want a tender cornbread.

  4. Bake the cornbread at 200°C until golden and a knife comes out clean. 25 min

    A dish preheated with the oil gives a crispier crust.

  5. Crush the walnuts with the garlic and cilantro, stir them into the beans with the vinegar, let sit for two minutes and serve with the cornbread. 3 min

    Add the cilantro off the heat so it keeps its color and bite.

Our tips to get it right

  • Pick fresh walnuts, not stale ones, they bring out their full flavor once crushed with garlic and cilantro.
  • Taste the sauce before serving, the vinegar should be noticeable without taking over, add it a little at a time.
  • Unmold the cornbread when it's warm rather than piping hot, it holds together better and slices more cleanly.

The variations

  • Swap the walnuts for hazelnuts or pecans if that's what you have on hand.
  • For a spicier version, add a pinch of chili powder along with the fenugreek or paprika.
  • Bake the cornbread in small individual molds so kids can dip their own mini loaves.

What to serve it with

  • A fresh cucumber and tomato salad
  • Plain yogurt on the side
  • A strong black tea

Storage

Lobio keeps for 3 days in the fridge in a sealed container, and freezes well for up to 2 months. Cornbread stays good for 2 days at room temperature, well wrapped, and a few minutes in the oven brings back its crust.

Questions about this dish

Can you use dried beans instead of canned?

Yes, soak 250g of dried beans overnight, then cook them for about 1 hour before following the recipe. The texture will be slightly firmer, which actually suits lobio well.

Can you make lobio ahead of time?

Yes, it's actually better reheated the next day, once the flavors have had time to blend. Just make the cornbread fresh so it stays soft.

What if you don't have fenugreek?

The paprika suggested in the recipe works just as well and gives the dish a warm color. Fenugreek adds a more distinctive note, but it's not essential.

Is cornbread good for kids?

Yes, its soft texture and mild taste usually go down well with kids. The lobio, more strongly flavored with garlic and cilantro, can be served on the side for younger eaters.

How long does it take to make a Georgian lobio with cornbread?

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

How many calories are in a Georgian lobio with cornbread?

About 630 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 Georgian lobio with cornbread cost?

About €1.60 per serving, or €6.40 for 4 people, based on average supermarket prices.

What allergens does this recipe contain?

This recipe contains gluten, lactose, eggs, tree nuts. Always check the labels of the products you buy.

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