Benkovačka vara (Benkovac, Ravni kotari)

Ingredients:

• 3 handfuls of young spring beans ( grav ) = about 15 dag
• 3 handfuls of beans
• 3 handfuls of chickpeas
• 3 handfuls of corn
• 2 cups of olive oil = about ½ l
• parsley
• salt and pepper

Preparation:

In the evening, clean spring beans, beans, chickpeas and corn and soak them in plenty of water. The next day, drain and wash well and cook in cold salted water in a clay pot or, more often, a metal pot these days. Cook until it boils, then remove from heat and drain and pour the first water. Return the chickpeas to the pot, add water to cover them a little and bring to a boil again. When it boils, reduce the heat, add salt and leave on a low heat until the peas are soft. If necessary, add a little water, but not too much. When all the peas are soft, sprinkle with pepper, pour plenty of olive oil and add chopped parsley at the end.

Remark:

Vara is a simple “poor man’s” dish, prepared in many places in the hinterland of Zadar. This recipe was written down in Benkovac, but it is prepared in a similar way in other places in Ravnokotar. Stankovac fraud  it is usually made only from corn and chickpeas.