Clay-Pot Lobio with Toasted Walnuts, Pomegranate and Fresh Herbs

Method

1. Rinse the beans and soak them for 8 h in cold water at least three times their volume.

   Add in this stepDried red kidney beans 140 g

2. Drain, then put the beans in a 20 cm pot with the fresh water and bay leaves. Boil hard on high heat for 10 min, then turn down to medium-low heat and simmer for 1 h, until they squash creamily between your fingers. Keep the cooking liquid.

   Add in this stepWater 1,100 mlBay leaves 1

   high heat→medium-low heat

3. Toast the walnuts in a dry pan on medium-low heat for 4 min, tossing, until fragrant and lightly browned in spots. While warm, rub them in kitchen paper to remove some of the bitter skin, then pound them in a mortar with the garlic, coriander, fenugreek, pepper flakes, savory and salt to a paste that just starts to release its oil.

   Add in this stepWalnuts 40 gGarlic cloves 2Ground coriander ¾ tspGround fenugreek ½ tspRed pepper flakes ½ tspDried savory (or dried thyme) ½ tspSalt 1 tsp

   medium-low heat

4. Finely chop the onion and cook it with the oil in a 18 cm pan on medium heat for 11 min, stirring often, until deep golden and caramelised; this sweetness gives lobio its depth. Heat the oven to 180 °C.

   Add in this stepOnion 1Sunflower oil 1½ tbsp

   medium heat

5. Remove the bay leaves, mash half the beans and mix with the rest. Stir in the onion, walnut paste, pomegranate molasses and half the chopped herbs, loosen with some of the reserved cooking liquid to a thick stew and season. Divide between 2 × 350 ml clay pots (or an ovenproof dish), cover and bake (oven) for 20 min, until bubbling at the edges.

   Add in this stepPomegranate molasses 2 tspFresh coriander (cilantro) 5 gDill 2 gBasil (purple basil if possible) 2 g

   oven

6. Rest for 5 minutes, then pile on the remaining herbs and the pomegranate seeds and serve in the pots. Lovely with cornbread (mchadi) or toasted bread and pickles.

   Add in this stepFresh coriander (cilantro) 5 gDill 2 gBasil (purple basil if possible) 2 gPomegranate seeds 30 g