Chanakhi-Style Beef and White Bean Stew

Name: Chanakhi-Style Beef and White Bean Stew
Prep time: 35 min
Cook time: 150 min
Total time: 665 min
Yield: 6 bowls
Cuisine: Georgian-inspired
Ingredients: 1 cup dry white beans, soaked overnight and cooked until tender; 500 g beef stewing meat, cubed; 3–4 potatoes, cubed; 1 carrot, chopped; 2 onions, sliced; 1 bell pepper, sliced; 2–3 tomatoes, chopped; 3–4 cloves garlic, minced; 2–3 tbsp vegetable oil; 2–3 bay leaves; to taste salt and black pepper; as needed hot water for simmering; to finish parsley or cilantro

A layered beef and bean stew with potato, carrot, peppers and tomatoes.

By Savva LoginovUpdated October 2, 2026

Total 11 hr 5 minMakes 6 bowls

Jump to Recipe

The source layers meat, beans and vegetables in a pot, but its one cup of beans is listed as dried and merely soaked overnight. Soaked beans still need to be cooked thoroughly before they join the shorter meat-and-potato simmer. Prepare the white beans separately until tender, or use the equivalent amount of plain cooked beans, then layer them with browned beef, potatoes, carrot, onions, peppers and tomatoes. Pour in enough hot water to partly cover the contents and simmer gently until the beef is fork-tender and the potatoes are cooked. The herbs go in at the table so they taste fresh. This is a home-style adaptation of chanakhi, with beans as the source specifies.

How to tell when it is ready

Beans fully soft, beef fork-tender and potato cooked through.

Tips

Soak beans overnight.
Cook beans separately until soft.
Cut potatoes evenly.
Simmer beef gently.

Troubleshooting

If beans are firm, cook separately until fully tender before layering.
If stew dries, add a little hot water and cover.

Substitutions

Use about 2.5 cups fully cooked plain white beans instead of 1 cup dried.
Use lamb in place of beef as the source permits.

Variations

Choose lamb instead of beef with adjusted simmer time.
Use red beans only if fully cooked by an appropriate method first.

Serving suggestions

Sprinkle parsley.
Add crusty bread.
Serve with cucumber salad.
Offer a spoonful of plain yogurt.

Make ahead

Prepare ingredients ahead and keep perishable items cold until cooking or serving.

Storage

Refrigerate covered up to 3 days or freeze portions.

Food safety

Soaking is not cooking; cook dried beans fully before adding them to this stew and chill leftovers promptly.

Frequently asked questions

Can I add only soaked raw beans to the stew?

No. Soaked dried beans still require full cooking before this shorter stew.

How should I store chanakhi-style beef and white bean stew?

Refrigerate covered up to 3 days or freeze portions.

Serve hot with chopped herbs over the tender beef and beans.

About the author

Savva Loginov

Savva Loginov writes about traditional Ukrainian cooking, including regional dishes, heritage baking and the customs behind familiar recipes. His English guides explain each dish’s context alongside clear, practical cooking instructions.

Chanakhi-Style Beef and White Bean Stew