Prebranac (Serbian Baked Beans)

Method

1. 1

   Cook the soaked beans with the bay leaf in fresh water until tender but still intact.

2. 2

   Drain, reserving the bean cooking water, and preheat the oven to 180°C.

3. 3

   Slice the onions. Heat the oil in a wide pan over low heat and fry them slowly, stirring occasionally, until deeply sweet and golden.

   💡 Rush this and prebranac tastes like beans; give the onions their full 15 minutes and it tastes like Serbia.

4. 4

   Take the pan off the heat and stir in the paprika and garlic, letting them bloom in the residual warmth.

   💡 Paprika burns in seconds — it goes in after the pan leaves the flame.

5. 5

   Layer half the beans in a baking dish, top with half the onions, then repeat, finishing with onions on top.

6. 6

   Ladle in enough reserved bean water to come partway up the layers.

7. 7

   Bake at 180°C for 40 minutes, until the top edges catch and turn crisp.