Creamy cranberry bean and smoked turkey casserole with merkén chuchoca crust

Name: Creamy cranberry bean and smoked turkey casserole with merkén chuchoca crust
Prep time: 25 min
Cook time: 55 min
Total time: 80 min
Yield: 6
Cuisine: Chilena
Ingredients: 21 oz cooked fresh cranberry beans; 12 oz smoked turkey, diced; 14 oz winter squash, small diced; 1 1/2 cups corn kernels; 1 1/4 cups onion, finely chopped; 1 tbsp garlic, chopped; 2 tsp paprika; 1 tsp dried oregano; 1 tsp merkén; 3 cups chicken or vegetable stock; 3/4 cup heavy cream; 1 cup grated chanco cheese; 3/4 cup chuchoca; 1 1/2 cups day-old marraqueta bread, crumbled; 2 tbsp melted butter; 2 tbsp vegetable oil; 1 tsp salt; 1/2 tsp black pepper; 3 tbsp chopped parsley

An original Chilean-inspired recipe combining fresh cranberry beans, squash, corn, and smoked turkey in a thick, comforting casserole, finished in the oven with a golden crust of chuchoca, chanco cheese, and a touch of merkén.

25 minPrep

55 minCook

80 minTotal

6Servings

High Protein

Ingredients

Adjust servings

600 g cooked fresh cranberry beans (well escurridos)
350 g smoked turkey, diced (skinless)
400 g winter squash, small diced (pelado)
250 g corn kernels (fresh or congelados)
180 g onion, finely chopped
12 g garlic, chopped
4 g paprika
2 g dried oregano
3 g merkén (divided)
750 ml chicken or vegetable stock (hot)
180 ml heavy cream
120 g grated chanco cheese (divided)
80 g chuchoca
70 g day-old marraqueta bread, crumbled (without corteza gruesa)
30 g melted butter
30 ml vegetable oil
6 g salt (or a taste)
1 g black pepper
10 g chopped parsley (for terminar)

Nutrition facts

per serving

532 kcal

Calories

28 g

Protein

42 g

Carbs

28 g

Fat

8 g

Fiber

34 g

Net carbs

Approximate nutritional information. Estimated from the recipe’s ingredients and amounts, using standard reference nutrition values. It may vary with brands, sizes and cooking method. For guidance only; not a substitute for medical or dietary advice.

Allergens

GlutenDairy

Instructions

1
Preheat the oven to 200 °C / 400 °F.
2
In a large pot, heat the vegetable oil over medium heat. Sauté the onion for 6 to 8 minutes until translucent. Add the garlic, paprika, oregano, and half of the merkén, and cook 1 minute more.
3
Add the diced squash and stir for 2 minutes so it absorbs the seasonings. Pour in the hot stock, bring to a gentle boil, and cook for 12 minutes.
4
Add the cooked cranberry beans, corn, and smoked turkey. Cook over medium-low heat for 10 minutes, stirring occasionally, until the squash is tender and some of the beans start to break down and thicken the stew.
5
Pour in the cream, add 80 g of the grated chanco cheese, the salt, and black pepper. Cook for 3 to 4 more minutes, stirring, until you have a creamy, thick casserole base. Transfer the mixture to a baking dish about 30 x 20 cm / 12 x 8 in.
6
In a bowl, mix the chuchoca, crumbled marraqueta bread, melted butter, the remaining merkén, and the remaining 40 g of chanco cheese. Spread this mixture over the top of the casserole.
7
Bake at 200 °C / 400 °F for 18 to 20 minutes, until the crust is golden and crisp around the edges.
8
Remove from the oven, let rest for 5 minutes, and finish with chopped parsley before serving.

Chef tips

For an even thicker texture, lightly mash about 1 cup of the beans before adding them. For a crispier crust, broil for 2 to 3 extra minutes, watching carefully so it does not burn.

Substitutions

You can replace the smoked turkey with shredded cooked chicken, though the smoky flavor will be milder. If chanco cheese is unavailable, use any good melting semi-firm cheese. Chuchoca can be blended with coarse polenta for a similar, though less traditional, result.

What I used to make it

Generic kitchen tools that work for this recipe. You don’t need to buy anything to make it.

Illustrative image
Cosori Pro LE 5 Qt Air Fryer
Browning and baking with little oil
- Browns food with very little oil
- Handy for vegetables, chicken and reheating
- Check the basket capacity
View on Amazon
Illustrative image
TempPro TP19H Digital Thermometer
Checking doneness of meat and chicken
- Checks doneness of meat and chicken
- Quick reading
- Clean the probe after each use
View on Amazon
Illustrative image
T-fal Ultimate Hard Anodized 12" Non-Stick Pan
Eggs, omelets and stir-fries
- Eggs and omelets that don’t stick
- Comfortable, sturdy handle
- Use wooden or silicone utensils
View on Amazon