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. Right this 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 aspect. These braised potatoes are filling sufficient to get pleasure from as a vegetarian foremost, they usually additionally make a implausible aspect dish in case you’re searching for 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 an attractive 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 quick 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 shocked when you end up craving all of them 12 months!


Components You’ll Want for This Recipe
Identical 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 elements. You’ll discover ideas and variations in a while, in addition to the printable recipe card under the put up with the total recipe particulars.
- Olive Oil – Some for cooking, and a few for drizzling.
- Onion – Cube up a small yellow onion (or any sort of onion that you simply like).
- Garlic – I take advantage of recent minced garlic, however pre-minced garlic from a jar would even be high-quality. Substitute 1 tablespoon of jarred garlic for every recent clove.
- Dried Herbs – Thyme and oregano are my go-to herbs for this dish. You can too 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 lower them into 1-inch cubes.
- Inexperienced Beans – Trim off the ends, and lower the beans into 2-inch items. You possibly can use frozen inexperienced beans in case you’re in a rush.
- Broth – Vegetable broth, or you should utilize hen broth in case you aren’t making this recipe vegetarian.
- Baking Soda – Baking soda helps hold the inexperienced beans vivid, and the tomatoes from overpowering the opposite elements with acidity.
- Diced Tomatoes – Canned diced tomatoes are greatest. Don’t drain them.
- Tomato Paste – Great 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 utilize recent or bottled.
- Contemporary Parsley – For garnish.
The Greatest Potatoes for Braising
Yukon gold potatoes are a cheerful medium between baking potatoes, like Russets, and waxy potatoes, like pink potatoes. Nonetheless, you’ll be able to substitute one other sort of potato if you wish to. Plain russets are high-quality, Dutch Cream potatoes can be nice, and any sort of fingerling potato would style implausible on this braised potatoes recipe, too.


Ideas and Variations
- Be certain your pot is oven-safe. Since this dish goes from the stovetop to the oven, ensure that 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 happy 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 searching for a strictly vegan or vegetarian dish, strive stirring cooked beef (like shredded beef or leftover pot roast) in on the finish. You possibly can additionally add pork or sausage.
- Cook dinner the meat individually. In case you do select so as to add meat to your dish, I don’t suggest braising the meat immediately with the veggies. The braising time is a bit of too lengthy for tender cuts and a bit of too quick 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 lower into 1-inch cubes
- 1 pound inexperienced beans, trimmed and lower 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 recent 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 prepare 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; prepare 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 prepare dinner for only a minute.
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Add broth. Stir within the broth and baking soda; convey to a simmer and proceed to prepare dinner for 10 minutes, stirring sometimes.
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Mix with the remaining elements. Add within the tomatoes and tomato juices, the tomato paste, salt, and pepper.
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Cook dinner. Cowl the pot and switch it to the oven. Cook 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 recent parsley, and chopped recent 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 offered as courtesy. Values might differ in response to the elements and instruments used. Please use your most popular dietary calculator for extra detailed information.
Make Braised Potatoes, Macedonian Fashion!
The cooking technique for genuine kompir mandza is super-traditional, and for good purpose. The outcomes are wonderful! First, give your elements 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 start out, 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 convey out the flavors.
- Add the potatoes and inexperienced beans. Subsequent, stir within the chopped potatoes and inexperienced beans, and allow them to prepare dinner for a minute.




- Add the remainder of the elements. 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.
- Sluggish prepare 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, recent parsley, and recent basil into the stew. Style for seasonings, then serve! Drizzle every serving with olive oil and prime with additional parsley earlier than serving.


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 advisable. Whereas it’s undoubtedly potential 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 suppose that the recipe will make an excessive amount of, strive lowering the elements by ⅓ or ½.
