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Vegetarian Dinner Featured

Prebranac (Serbia)

An authentic recipe for traditional Serbian Prebranac, featuring tender baked white beans smothered in rich caramelized onions and sweet red paprika.

Level Medium Prep 20 min Cook 60 min Servings 6 Score 4.9/10

Ready in

80 min

Makes 6 servings

Prep 20m

Cook 60m

Level Medium

About this recipe

An authentic recipe for traditional Serbian Prebranac, featuring tender baked white beans smothered in rich caramelized onions and sweet red paprika.

Traditional Serbian baked beans layered with sweet onions and paprika.

Ingredients

Servings

Units

Main

500 g large white beans (canellini or tetovac beans, soaked overnight and boiled)

Onions

4 large yellow onions (thinly sliced into half-moons)
1/3 cup sunflower oil or lard

Spice & Seasoning

2 tbsp sweet ground paprika (Serbian red paprika)
2 pieces bay leaves
2 cloves garlic (minced)
salt and black pepper (to taste)

Liquid

1 cup bean boiling broth (reserved from cooking the beans)

Equipment

Earthenware or baking dish Traditional shallow baking dish
Large skillet For caramelizing onions
Pot For boiling beans

Instructions

Soak the white beans overnight in cold water, drain, then boil in fresh water until tender but not mushy.
Preheat your oven to 375°F (190°C).
Heat oil in a large skillet and sauté the sliced onions over medium-low heat until completely soft, translucent, and lightly caramelized.
Stir the minced garlic, sweet ground paprika, salt, and black pepper into the caramelized onions.
In a baking dish or traditional earthenware pot, layer the cooked beans and the onion mixture alternately, finishing with a layer of beans on top and tucking in the bay leaves.
Pour the reserved bean broth over the mixture and bake in the preheated oven for 45-60 minutes until the top forms a nice golden crust and most liquid is absorbed.
60 min

Nutrition

Calories 340

Protein 14g

Carbs 48g

Fat 11g

Fiber 12g

Sugar 6g

Sodium 420mg

Serving Size 1 serving

Cooking Timeline

Prep 20 min

Cook 60 min

Total 80 min

Recipe Scorecard

Overall 9.3 /10

Expert 4.9 95% conf.

Taste 9.7
Presentation 9.2
Nutrition 9.0
Value 9.8
Instructions 9.4
Ingredients 9.5
Time Accuracy 9.0
Difficulty 7.0
Would Make Again 9.5

Expert Review

Reviewed by FindEdition Kitchen

Verdict

A deeply comforting and flavorful Serbian classic highlighting rich caramelized onions and tender baked beans.

Pros

Inexpensive ingredients
Deep savory flavor
Great for meal prepping

Cons

Requires long bean preparation time if using dry beans

Overview

Traditional Serbian baked beans layered with sweet onions and paprika.

AI Insights

Summary

An authentic recipe for traditional Serbian Prebranac, featuring tender baked white beans smothered in rich caramelized onions and sweet red paprika.

Tips

Use plenty of onions—the ratio of onions to beans is key to authentic flavor and texture
Prebranac actually tastes even better when reheated the next day after the flavors have fully married
Serve warm or at room temperature alongside crusty bread and pickled vegetables