Legumes

 

Stew Red Beans (Stew Red Peas)

Servings 2

Ingredients
  

  • 1 ¾ - 2 cups 1 can cooked kidney beans. Or, 1 cup dry beans soaked overnight. Then discard the water, then place in a pot. Add fresh water (about 1 inch above the beans), and cook until tender – makes 2 cups. (Do not discard the remaining liquid from the cooked beans. It will help to thicken the stew. But you can just use water as well.)
  • ½ cup onions finely chopped
  • ½ cup sweet peppers chopped (Bell, pimento, mini peppers)
  • 4 garlic cloves finely chopped (1½ tbsp minced)
  • 5 sprigs of thyme or 1 tbsp dry thyme
  • 1 heaping tbsp oregano leaves chopped (½ tbsp dry oregano)
  • 1 heaping tbsp parsley chopped (½ tbsp dry parsley)
  • 2 scallions chopped
  • 2 culantro leaves (chadon beni) chopped (or ¼ cup chopped cilantro leaves)
  • 1 level tbsp tomato paste
  • 1 medium tomato
  • 1 potato, taro or yam diced
  • 1 tbsp Soy sauce, Tamari sauce or Liquid Aminos
  • ½ tsp apple cider vinegar
  • 1 tsp vegetable oil
  • ½ tsp salt or to taste
  • Hot pepper finely chopped, or chili powder, to taste (optional)

Instructions
 

  • Heat a large skillet or pot over medium heat.
  • Add oil. This recipe uses less oil to sauté the seasoning. Therefore, to prevent the seasoning from burning during the sautéing process, keep ½ cup of water on hand and add 1 tbsp of water, at a time, to areas where you see the seasoning may stick.
  • Add onions and ¼ tsp of salt, and stir gently for two minutes, until onions are translucent.
  • Add peppers and stir for 2 minutes.
  • Add garlic and stir for 1 minute.
  • Add tomato paste and soy sauce and stir to into mixture (about 10 seconds).
  • Add the remainder of seasoning – tomato, apple cider vinegar, oregano, parsley, scallions, thyme and culantro.
  • Add ¼ cup of water, stir, cover pot and let simmer for 10 minutes. You may need to add a bit of water after 5 minutes to prevent sticking.
  • Add cooked beans and a ½ cup (or more) of liquid from the cooked beans, or water.
  • Cover and let simmer for 15 – 20 minutes.
  • When almost cooked, add diced potatoes, or other ground provision, and simmer until tender.
  • Taste and, if needed, add salt.

Notes

Don’t like to cook much? Then replace seasonings with an equivalent amount of Caribbean seasoning blend or dry seasoning.
Pairing:  Serve with rice, or other grain or ground provision. Add to tacos and wraps