Family beans
Family beans is a hearty, spiced bean stew made with canned beans, onion, garlic and warm spices like cumin, coriander, chilli and fennel, simmered in a rich tomato base. The Thermomix TM7 chops, grinds and cooks everything in one bowl, making it an ideal fuss-free main course for busy families who love bold, comforting flavours.
About this recipe
Family beans Thermomix TM7 style is the answer to anyone searching for bean stew recipes that deliver big flavour with minimal effort. This spiced tomato-based main course combines canned beans with onion, garlic and a fragrant blend of ground cumin, coriander, chilli powder and fennel seed, all cooked in one mixing bowl. The all-in-one kitchen machine grinds the fennel seed fresh for maximum aroma, chops the onion and garlic finely, and then gently simmers everything in a rich tomato sauce without you standing at the hob. It is the perfect quick weeknight dinner for families: the base can be kept mild for younger children, with extra chilli added for the adults. Serve it with rice, crusty bread or tortillas, and you have a satisfying, budget-friendly meal that comes together in a single appliance with hardly any washing up afterwards.
Preparation tips
- Rinse the canned beans thoroughly in a sieve before adding them to the mixing bowl; this removes the cloudy brine and keeps the tomato sauce around your family beans clean-tasting and vibrant.
- For a thicker stew, blend a small ladle of the finished beans briefly and stir it back through the pot; the crushed beans bind the spiced tomato sauce beautifully without extra flour.
- Toast the fennel seed and cumin briefly before grinding to deepen their aroma, and keep the chilli powder separate until the end so you can spice each family member's portion individually.
Recipe variations
- Kid-friendly version: omit the chilli powder entirely and serve the mild bean base to children, adding a dash of hot sauce or extra chilli at the table for the adults who like heat.
- Festive variation: stir in roasted red peppers and a square of dark chocolate during the final simmer for a rich, Mexican-inspired family beans that pairs wonderfully with warm tortillas and avocado.
Thermomix TM7 Benefits
- Grinding mastery - The TM7 grinds whole fennel seed into a fine, fragrant powder that infuses the tomato sauce evenly. [Grinding]. [Multi-Function]
- Speedy chopping - The Thermomix chops the onion and garlic cloves finely in seconds, releasing their sweetness without tears. [Chopping]. [Multi-Function]
- Weighing ease - Add olive oil and tomato paste directly into the bowl while the TM7 scale weighs each amount precisely. [Weighing]. [Precision Control]
- Gentle simmering - The Thermomix heats the spiced bean mixture evenly, stirring automatically so the tomato base never sticks or burns. [Heating]. [Hands-Free]
- One-bowl mixing - The TM7 mixes the canned beans through the sauce gently, coating every bean without crushing them. [Mixing]. [Multi-Function]
Ingredients
- brown onion
- garlic cloves
- ground cumin
- ground coriander
- chilli powder
- ground fennel seed
- olive oil
- canned black beans
- tomato paste
- water