These one-pot braised potatoes are a conventional Macedonian recipe, with chunky Yukon Gold potatoes cooked low and sluggish with tender inexperienced beans and juicy tomatoes. In Macedonia, we name this straightforward potato dish kompir mandza. It’s a hearty vegetarian meal that warms you from the within out!


You already know Macedonians love their braised inexperienced beans and tomatoes. At the moment, we’re braising them with potatoes in a conventional vegetarian stew known as kompir mandza (pronounced COMB-peer MUN-jah). These braised potatoes are flavorful and filling, made with melt-in-your-mouth potatoes slowly simmered in broth with onions, inexperienced beans, tomatoes, and paprika.
About These Comforting Macedonian Braised Potatoes
- Hearty and healthful. That is the kind of dish that tastes prefer it comes from Grandma’s kitchen. Tender potatoes and heat broth = on the spot consolation.
- Function a meal or facet. These braised potatoes are filling sufficient to get pleasure from as a vegetarian major, and so they additionally make a improbable facet dish in the event you’re in search of a veggie to serve along with your vacation roast.
- 10 minutes to prep. Beginning these potatoes on the range brings out their taste, after which the oven takes over.


What Is Kompir Mandza?
Kompir mandza is typically described as a “poor man’s” meals, however don’t let that idiot you. Macedonian braised potatoes are like a ravishing marriage between thick, chunky potato chowder and hearty vegetable soup. The potatoes and veggies are cooked low and sluggish in a Dutch oven, similar to you’d braise lamb shanks or brief ribs.
Dishes like this have an extended historical past in Macedonia. Fasting from meat, dairy, and butter is a super-ancient custom within the Orthodox group. Braised potatoes are thought-about “posno,” that means Lent or fasting meals, however don’t be stunned when you end up craving all of them yr!


Elements You’ll Want for This Recipe
Similar to a household’s shakshuka, each recipe for Macedonian braised potato stew is a bit of completely different. My favourite recipe makes use of the next substances. You’ll discover suggestions and variations afterward, in addition to the printable recipe card beneath the publish with the total recipe particulars.
- Olive Oil – Some for cooking, and a few for drizzling.
- Onion – Cube up a small yellow onion (or any form of onion that you simply like).
- Garlic – I exploit contemporary minced garlic, however pre-minced garlic from a jar would even be tremendous. Substitute 1 tablespoon of jarred garlic for every contemporary clove.
- Dried Herbs – Thyme and oregano are my go-to herbs for this dish. You may as well use rosemary, basil, or your favourite herbs.
- Paprika – Each candy and smoked paprika will work completely. In case you’d like, kick up the warmth a notch and add a pinch of cayenne or chili flakes.
- Potatoes – For this dish, select potatoes that maintain their form however are nonetheless “floury.” I like Yukon Gold or russet potatoes for braising. Peel them and reduce them into 1-inch cubes.
- Inexperienced Beans – Trim off the ends, and reduce the beans into 2-inch items. You would use frozen inexperienced beans in the event you’re in a rush.
- Broth – Vegetable broth, or you should use rooster broth in the event you aren’t making this recipe vegetarian.
- Baking Soda – Baking soda helps preserve the inexperienced beans brilliant, and the tomatoes from overpowering the opposite substances with acidity.
- Diced Tomatoes – Canned diced tomatoes are greatest. Don’t drain them.
- Tomato Paste – Fantastic for including depth of taste to soups and stews.
- Lemon Juice – A bit of little bit of lemon juice brightens up the flavour. You should use contemporary or bottled.
- Contemporary Parsley – For garnish.
The Finest Potatoes for Braising
Yukon gold potatoes are a contented medium between baking potatoes, like Russets, and waxy potatoes, like pink potatoes. Nonetheless, you may substitute one other form of potato if you wish to. Plain russets are tremendous, Dutch Cream potatoes can be nice, and any form of fingerling potato would style improbable on this braised potatoes recipe, too.


Suggestions and Variations
- Be sure your pot is oven-safe. Since this dish goes from the stovetop to the oven, make it possible for the pot you’re utilizing is appropriate for each. I like making this recipe in my Dutch oven.
- Use frozen inexperienced beans. To chop down in your prep time, be at liberty to make use of frozen inexperienced beans. Add them after the potatoes, in order that the potatoes nonetheless saute a bit of bit with out the icy inexperienced beans slowing down the cooking course of.
- Add meat. In case you are not in search of a strictly vegan or vegetarian dish, strive stirring cooked beef (like shredded beef or leftover pot roast) in on the finish. You would additionally add pork or sausage.
- Prepare dinner the meat individually. In case you do select so as to add meat to your dish, I don’t suggest braising the meat instantly with the veggies. The braising time is a bit of too lengthy for tender cuts and a bit of too brief for powerful cuts.


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- 3 tablespoons olive oil, plus extra for drizzling
- 1 small yellow onion, diced
- 4 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 teaspoon dried thyme
- 1 teaspoon dried oregano
- 1 teaspoon candy or smoked paprika
- 1 pound yukon gold potatoes, peeled and reduce into 1-inch cubes
- 1 pound inexperienced beans, trimmed and reduce into 2-inch items
- 1½ cups vegetable broth
- ½ teaspoon baking soda
- 1 can diced tomatoes, 14 ounces, undrained
- 2 tablespoons tomato paste
- 1½ teaspoons salt, or to style
- ¼ teaspoon freshly floor black pepper, or to style
- 1 tablespoon lemon juice
- 2 tablespoons chopped contemporary parsley, plus extra for garnish
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Prep. Preheat the oven to 275˚F.
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Sauté the onions. Warmth the olive oil in a Dutch oven set over medium warmth. Stir within the chopped onion and cook dinner for about 3 to 4 minutes, or till softened.
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Stir within the seasonings. Add within the garlic, thyme, oregano, and paprika; cook dinner for 20 seconds, or till aromatic.
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Add the potatoes and inexperienced beans. Stir within the chopped potatoes and inexperienced beans; stir and cook dinner for only a minute.
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Add broth. Stir within the broth and baking soda; deliver to a simmer and proceed to cook dinner for 10 minutes, stirring often.
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Mix with the remaining substances. Add within the tomatoes and tomato juices, the tomato paste, salt, and pepper.
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Prepare dinner. Cowl the pot and switch it to the oven. Prepare dinner for 40 to 50 minutes, or till veggies are tender and sauce has barely thickened.
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Ending touches. Take away from oven. Stir within the lemon juice, chopped contemporary parsley, and chopped contemporary basil. Style for salt and pepper and regulate accordingly.
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Serve. Drizzle every serving with a little bit of oil. Garnish with extra parsley and serve.
Energy: 287kcal | Carbohydrates: 43g | Protein: 11g | Fats: 10g | Saturated Fats: 1g | Polyunsaturated Fats: 2g | Monounsaturated Fats: 6g | Sodium: 749mg | Potassium: 849mg | Fiber: 10g | Sugar: 8g | Vitamin A: 931IU | Vitamin C: 31mg | Calcium: 97mg | Iron: 4mg
Dietary information is an estimate and supplied as courtesy. Values could range in accordance with the substances and instruments used. Please use your most well-liked dietary calculator for extra detailed information.
The best way to Make Braised Potatoes, Macedonian Fashion!
The cooking methodology for genuine kompir mandza is super-traditional, and for good motive. The outcomes are wonderful! First, give your substances a head begin on the range to construct taste, after which braise in a low oven till tender and hearty. Let’s get began:




- Sauté the aromatics. To begin, preheat the oven to 275°F. In the meantime, sauté the onion, garlic, paprika, and dried herbs in a heavy, ovenproof soup pot or Dutch oven to deliver out the flavors.
- Add the potatoes and inexperienced beans. Subsequent, stir within the chopped potatoes and inexperienced beans, and allow them to cook dinner for a minute.




- Add the remainder of the substances. Pour the broth over the veggies and sprinkle within the baking soda. Stir, and let the pot simmer for 10 minutes earlier than you add the undrained tomatoes, tomato paste, salt, and pepper. Stir once more.
- Gradual cook dinner. Cowl the pot, and use oven mitts if wanted to switch your pot of potatoes to the oven. Let the potatoes braise at 275°F for 40 to 50 minutes, or till the greens are tender and the broth has thickened.
- End and serve. Take the pot out of the oven, and stir your lemon juice, contemporary parsley, and contemporary basil into the stew. Style for seasonings, then serve! Drizzle every serving with olive oil and prime with further parsley earlier than serving.


The best way to Retailer and Reheat Leftovers
- Refrigerate. To retailer the leftovers, let the braised potatoes cool barely after which switch them to an hermetic container. Refrigerate for as much as 3 days. I believe it tastes even higher the following day!
- Freezing isn’t really useful. Whereas it’s undoubtedly attainable to freeze braised potatoes, chances are you’ll discover that the feel turns very mushy (and a bit of chalky) when reheated. In case you assume that the recipe will make an excessive amount of, strive lowering the substances by ⅓ or ½.

