Catalan bean stew

2                    red or brown dried chile peppers
                        - such as Pasilla or New Mexico Reds
                        - or 1 tbsp sweet paprika -- Spanish or Hungarian
   3      cups          vegetable broth
   2      medium        onion -- peeled & quartered
   4                    ripe tomatoes
   6      cloves        garlic -- peeled
   2                    country-style white bread
   3                    parsnips  -- diced
                        - or carrots
   1                    potato -- peeled & diced
     1/2  cup           flat-leaf parsley -- finely chopped
   2      cups          fava beans -- cooked
                        - (4 cups cooked favas)
                        -  or 4 cups cooked lima beans
   1      cup           corn kernels -- cooked
   2      tablespoons   sherry -- or to taste
   1      tablespoon    sherry vinegar -- or to taste
                        salt and freshly ground black pepper

Tear the chiles in half and remove the stems and seeds. Soak the chiles in
the stock for 1 hour or until soft. If using paprika, dissolve it in the
stock. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees.

Place the onions and tomatoes on a baking sheet lined with foil and roast
them for 20 minutes. Add the garlic and continue roasting for 20 minutes,
or until the garlic is soft and the onions are golden brown. Darkly toast
the bread in a toaster.

Transfer the chiles to a blender with a slotted spoon, reserving the
stock. Add the onions, tomatoes, garlic, and toast and puree until smooth,
adding stock as necessary to obtain a thick paste. Note: A blender works
better than a food processor for this purpose.

Transfer the chile mixture to a large, nonstick frying pan and cook over
medium heat, stirring often, for 3 minutes or until fragrant. Stir in the
reserved stock, parsnips, and potatoes and half the parsley and cook,
uncovered, stirring often, for 15 to 20 minutes, or until the vegetables
are just tender. The recipe can be prepared ahead to this stage.

Stir in the fava beans, corn, sherry, and vinegar and simmer for 5
minutes, or until the beans and corn are thoroughly heated. Correct the
seasoning, adding salt, sherry, or vinegar to taste. The mixture should be
highly seasoned. If the stew is too thick, add a little more stock. If too
thin, simmer the stew, uncovered, to evaporate the excess liquid.

Transfer the stew to a bowl or platter and sprinkle with the remaining
parsley. Rice or polenta would make a nice accompaniment.

This stew originally was topped with almonds which I omitted. I served
it over polenta and it was great! The recipe is a bit fussy but I think it was
worth the effort. Enjoy!