rotten pot

Here’s a clear, home-cook-friendly version of Olla Podrida — the Spanish “Rotten Pot” stew. Despite the name, it’s a rich, delicious slow-cooked dish full of meats, beans, and flavor.

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🫕 Olla Podrida (Rotten Pot Stew)

🧾 Ingredients (Serves 6–8)

Base

• 2 cups dried red beans or pinto beans (soaked overnight)

• 8 cups water or unsalted broth

• 1 bay leaf

• 1 whole garlic bulb (cut in half horizontally)

• 1 medium onion, peeled

Meats (choose a variety)

• 1/2 lb pork ribs or pork shoulder

• 1/4 lb bacon or pancetta

• 1 chorizo sausage, sliced thick

• 1 morcilla (blood sausage), sliced (optional)

• 1 pig’s foot, ear, or ham hock (optional, for authenticity)

Vegetables (optional but traditional)

• 2 carrots, sliced

• 1 leek, chopped

• 1/4 small cabbage, sliced

• 2 potatoes, peeled and chopped

Seasoning

• 1 tsp sweet paprika

• Salt and pepper to taste

• Olive oil

Breadcrumb Dumplings (optional relleno)

• 1 cup breadcrumbs

• 1 egg

• 1 clove garlic, minced

• 1 tbsp parsley, chopped

• Olive oil (for frying)

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🧑‍🍳 Instructions

1. Prepare the beans

• Drain soaked beans and place them in a large pot with water, onion, garlic bulb, and bay leaf.

• Bring to a boil, then lower heat and simmer for about 1 hour.

2. Cook the meats

• In a separate pan, simmer pork, bacon, and pig’s foot/ear if using until tender (1–1.5 hours). Skim foam.

• Add them to the bean pot.

• Add chorizo and morcilla in the last 15 minutes of cooking so they don’t fall apart.

3. Add vegetables

• Add carrots, potatoes, cabbage, and leek to the pot.

• Season with salt, pepper, and paprika.

• Simmer until vegetables are tender (about 30–40 minutes more).

4. Make the dumplings (optional)

• Mix breadcrumbs, egg, garlic, and parsley. Form small patties.

• Fry in olive oil until golden. Add to stew in the last 10 minutes.

5. Serve

• Traditionally served in courses:

  1. Broth first as a soup.

  2. Then beans and vegetables.

  3. Finally, meats and rellenos.

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✅ Tips

• This dish tastes even better the next day.

• Use canned beans for a quicker version (reduce simmer time).

• You can omit rare ingredients (like morcilla) and still get great results.