Batar Da'an (Corn, Bean, and Pumpkin Stew)

Name: Batar Da'an (Corn, Bean, and Pumpkin Stew)
Prep time: 15 min
Cook time: 40 min
Total time: 55 min
Yield: 4 servings
Cuisine: Timor-Leste
Ingredients: 2 cups dried corn kernels, soaked overnight; 1 cup dried mung beans or kidney beans, soaked; 2 cups pumpkin, cubed; 1 onion, chopped; 2 cloves garlic, minced; 4 cups water; 2 tbsp cooking oil; Salt and pepper, to taste; Chopped scallions, for garnish

4 servings15 min prep40 min cookEasy Timor-Leste

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The Story Behind It

The Tale of Batar Da'an (Corn, Bean, and Pumpkin Stew)

Story updated September 17, 2026

This simple stew of corn, beans, and pumpkin reflects Timor-Leste's traditional highland agriculture, where corn (batar) has long been a staple alongside rice. It's an everyday subsistence dish rather than one tied to a documented inventor or event, rooted in the island's mountainous farming communities.

Ingredients

Scale:· 4 servings

2 cups dried corn kernels, soaked overnight
1 cup dried mung beans or kidney beans, soaked
2 cups pumpkin, cubed
1 onion, chopped
2 cloves garlic, minced
4 cups water
2 tbsp cooking oil
Salt and pepper, to taste
Chopped scallions, for garnish

Instructions

1Boil the soaked corn kernels in water until they begin to soften, about 20 minutes.
2Add the soaked beans and continue simmering until both are nearly tender, another 15 minutes.
3Sauté onion and garlic in oil in a separate pan until fragrant, then stir into the pot.
4Add the pumpkin cubes and simmer until everything is tender and the stew has thickened slightly, about 10-15 minutes.
5Season with salt and pepper to taste.
6Garnish with chopped scallions and serve warm as a hearty side or light main.

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