Macedonian Baked Beans & Mushroom Chicken with Shopska Salad and Sourdough (includes complimentary surprise dessert)

Thursday’s dinner brings the rustic, deeply comforting flavors of Macedonia to Ragna’s Table. This menu celebrates the pleasure of generous home cooking: creamy baked beans, tender chicken, earthy mushrooms and crisp vegetables, with sliced sourdough bread to gather up every last spoonful.

At the heart of the meal is tavče gravče, Macedonia’s beloved baked bean dish. White beans are baked with softened onions, peppers and sweet paprika until the flavors come together in a rich, savory sauce. The beans become beautifully tender while the surface develops a delicate crust, creating a dish that is simple in its ingredients but full of warmth and character. Sliced rustic sourdough bread accompanies the beans, its chewy crumb, golden crust and gentle tang making it perfect for scooping them up and soaking up their flavorful sauce.

Alongside the beans is chicken with mushrooms, inspired by the Macedonian dish pileshko so pechurki. Tender chicken thighs are gently cooked with golden mushrooms, softened onions, garlic and a splash of white wine. The browned mushrooms and chicken juices create a savory sauce, finished with fresh parsley. Their earthy flavors complement the sweetness of the peppers and paprika in the beans, bringing the two dishes together into a satisfying meal.

A fresh Shopska salad adds brightness, color and crunch. Tomatoes, cucumber, peppers and onion are topped with crumbled feta and lightly dressed, offering a refreshing counterpoint to the warm beans and chicken. The juicy vegetables and salty cheese bring a lively contrast to each bite.

This dinner also brings together a nourishing variety of ingredients. White beans provide plant protein and fiber, which support fullness and digestive health, along with iron and folate. Chicken contributes protein for maintaining muscle, while mushrooms supply B vitamins involved in the body’s energy metabolism. The salad adds vitamin C from peppers and tomatoes, and tomatoes also contribute lycopene, a naturally occurring antioxidant. Olive oil provides predominantly unsaturated fats, and the feta adds calcium as well as its distinctive salty flavor.

Vegetarian upon request: The vegetarian meal includes an extra-generous helping of tavče gravče in place of the chicken, served with Shopska salad and sliced rustic sourdough bread.

Every plate brings together creamy beans, savory mushrooms, tender chicken, crisp vegetables and crusty bread—a thoughtful balance of comforting richness and refreshing brightness.

I’m delighted to share this taste of Macedonia with you at Ragna’s Table.

I can’t wait to cook this for you!