Porotos Con Riendas, or “beans with reins,” is a traditional Chilean stew made with white beans and squash. It’s hearty and comforting, especially when topped with chorizo. The name comes from the beans’ resemblance to porcelain, a charming touch that adds to the dish’s homey feel. It’s perfect for cold, rainy days when you need a bowl of warmth.

Francisca, from Chile, shared this recipe with me. It’s a dish deeply connected to her childhood. She remembers her grandmother cooking it in their family kitchen, the smell filling the house while rain pattered outside. This dish reminds Francisca of love and care, a family staple passed down through generations.

To make this dish, you’ll need to soak the beans overnight, then cook them in a pressure cooker. In a pan, you’ll sauté onions in oil with paprika and seasonings until they’re soft and fragrant. This mixture gets added to the beans along with cubes of squash and broken pieces of spaghetti. After another pressure-cook session, the dish is topped with fried chorizo and a paprika oil drizzle. The result is a thick, flavorful stew.

Personally, I found the dish to be unique. The beans have a strong, somewhat bitter flavor that surprised me, though it balances out with the sweetness of the squash. The chorizo adds a spicy, savory element that I really enjoyed. While the flavor of the beans wasn’t quite for me, the overall dish is comforting and packed with different textures and tastes. If you like hearty soups with a lot of depth, this dish is worth trying.