I recently came across a recipe for Dominican Chapea, in the wonderful new The China Study Cookbook by LeAnne Campbell. I had never heard of this dish before, but it looked right up my alley.

After a little research, I learned that Chapea is a traditional bean stew, commonly served throughout the Dominican Republic countryside. Though Chapea recipes vary from family to family, they generally include beans and rice, simmered in a flavorful broth, along with squash, onions, green pepper, and cilantro. Yum!

Her version also has cabbage, which was another lure. I love finding ways to transform late harvest vegetables into a hearty autumn stew. The more the merrier. I haven’t been able to confirm whether or not cabbage is traditional in Chapea, but it is integral here.

One note about the rice. Because Chapea is traditionally made with white rice, it’s added directly into the soup pot to cook along with the rest of the stew. This makes it truly a one pot meal.

However, I substitute brown for white rice, for added flavor and nutrition. I love it this way, but because brown rice takes longer to cook, it does have to be prepared separately. I use a rice cooker for brown rice, and throw the cooked brown rice into the stew at the end. This does create one extra step, but to me, it’s really worth it.

I’ve made several other adjustments to LeAnne’s version, too. For starters, in addition to the brown rice swap, I use more cabbage, butternut squash, tomato paste, and cilantro.

This is a savory and comforting stew, and the newest member of my regular rotation. I think it’s absolutely delicious. For a lovely finishing touch, try garnishing with diced avocados.