Quick Easy Moros Y Cristianos Food

MOROS Y CRISTIANOS (CUBAN BLACK BEANS AND RICE)

Steps:

• Heat oil in a Dutch oven over medium heat. Add bell pepper, onion, and garlic; cook and stir until onion is translucent, about 5 minutes. Stir in crushed tomatoes and vinegar. Add cumin, salt, thyme, pepper flakes, and bay leaf. Cook for 3 minutes.
• Add black beans, then stir in white rice. Pour in chicken stock and bring to a boil. Reduce heat to low, cover, and simmer until rice is tender and all liquid has been absorbed, about 25 minutes; do not lift the cover during the cook time.

MOORS AND CHRISTIANS (MOROS Y CRISTIANOS)

Steps:

• Cooking the Beans
• Rinse and pick over the beans. Place in a medium heavy-bottomed pot with 2 1/2 quarts water, the onion, bell pepper, ajíes or cubanelle pepper, and the ham hock, if using, and bring to a boil over high heat. Lower the heat to medium and simmer, uncovered, until the beans are tender but still retain their shape, about 2 hours. Drain, reserving 4 cups of the cooking liquid. Discard the vegetables and ham hock; you should have 2 cups cooked beans.
• Finishing the Dish
• Place the rice in a medium bowl, cover with cold tap water, and swirl the rice, then drain, holding the rice in place with one hand. Repeat the process as many times as necessary until the water runs clear. Drain well in a sieve or strainer. Heat the oil in the heavy-bottomed pot over medium heat. Add the diced bacon and sauté until golden, about 3 minutes. Add the onion, green pepper, cumin, oregano, and bay leaf and sauté until the onion is soft, about 5 minutes.
• Add the rice and stir to coat thoroughly. Add the beans and the reserved bean cooking liquid, then add the vinegar, sherry, and salt. Mix well and taste for seasoning; add a dash more of sherry, vinegar, and/or spices if needed. The cooking liquid should be flavorful. Cook, uncovered, until most of the liquid is absorbed and small craters have formed on the surface of the rice. Fluff the rice slightly with a kitchen fork, reduce the heat to the lowest possible setting, and cook, tightly covered, for 20 minutes.
• Remove from the heat and let stand, uncovered, for at least 10 minutes before serving.

MOORS AND CHRISTIANS RICE (WHITE RICE AND BLACK BEANS): MOROS Y CRISTIANOS

Steps:

• Cooking the beans: Wash the beans and cook in a large kettle with the peeled whole onion, the cachucha peppers, and the cored and seeded green pepper. Cook over moderate heat until the beans are tender, about 2 hours. Make sure the beans retain their shape; do not overcook. Drain and reserve 4 cups of the cooking liquid and 2 cups of cooked beans. Wash the rice in cold water until the water runs clear, drain, and set aside.
• Cooking the rice and beans: In a heavy-bottomed 4-quart pot, heat the oil over medium heat and saute the diced bacon until golden brown. Add the onion, green pepper, cumin, oregano and bay leaf. Saute, stirring for 1 minute. Add the rice and stir until all the grains are coated with oil and bacon grease. Add the reserved 2 cups of beans and the 4 cups cooking liquid, then add vinegar, sherry, and salt. Mix well, taste, and correct seasonings. Cook uncovered until all the liquid evaporates, you will see small air bubbles forming on the surface of the rice. Fluff the rice slightly with a kitchen fork. Cover and cook over low heat for 20 minutes. Remove from the heat and let stand, uncovered, at least 2 to 3 minutes before serving.

MOROS Y CRISTIANOS (CUBAN RICE AND BEANS)

Steps:

• Heat oil in pan and saute onion and garlic for 2 minutes.
• Add tomato sauce and broth and bring to boil.
• Add next six ingredients (beans through bay leaf) and bring to boil.
• Cover, reduce heat, and simmer 20 minutes, stirring occasionally.
• Discard bay leaf before serving; serve over rice with bell peppers and parmesan cheese, if desired.

MOROS Y CRISTIANOS

Steps:

• Use a large, eight-quart covered stockpot. Heat the olive oil over low-medium heat, then add the onion and garlic pepper and keep stirring them until they are tender. Add garlic and fry another minute or two. Add the tomato paste, black beans, oregano, cumin, bay leaf and vinegar. Cook for about five minutes, stirring gently.
• Add the chicken stock and rinsed rice. Bring to a boil, reduce heat to low, cover and cook about 20 to 30 minutes, or until rice is fully cooked.
• Finally, add salt and pepper until it tastes just right. Remove the bay leaf, serve hot.

SPANISH CRISTIANOS Y MOROS ( BEANS AND RICE SIDEDISH)

Steps:

• Soak the dried beans, cook until tender and set aside.
• Meanwhile, combine all the dressing ingredients and blend well. (This can be done several hours in advance to allow the ingredients to marinate.).
• Cook the rice until done.
• Drain the warm beans and transfer 3 cups to a large bowl.
• Toss the black beans carefully with half of the white onion and half of the dressing.
• In another bowl, transfer the rice and toss with the remaining onion and dressing.
• On a large serving platter, arrange the beans on one side and the rice on the other side.
• Cover and set aside at room temperature for about 1 hour, or refrigerate for up to 2 days.
• Adjust seasonings if necessary and garnish with red pepper and parsley (or cilantro) if desired.

CUBAN-STYLE CRISTIANOS Y MOROS (CONGRI)

Steps:

• Soak the beans for at least 4 hours.
• In a large stock pot add the drained beans, the onion, 4 garlic cloves, bay leaves, 1/2 bell pepper, cumin and oregano. Bring to a boil and skim off foam.
• Reduce the heat, cover and gently simmer, stirring occasionally, for one hour or until beans are tender. Add water to keep the beans from drying out. Remove the onion, garlic, bay leaves, and bell pepper and discard.
• SOFRITO: Brown the bacon in a frying pan over medium heat. Drain the bacon. Pour off the fat from the pan except for 1 teaspoon.
• Add olive oil and remaining sofrito ingredients, cooking over medium heat until just beginning to brown, about 3 minutes. Stir the sofrito into the beans, along with the SEASONINGS. Continue simmmering until beans are very soft, about 20 minutes. Adjust seasonings to taste before serving. Serve with hot cooked white rice.

QUICK CROQUE-MONSIEUR

Steps:

• Heat grill to High and toast the bread lightly on both sides. While the bread is toasting, combine all the other ingredients in a bowl. Press the cheesy mix onto the toast, then place under the grill for 3-4 mins until golden and bubbling. Cut into halves and serve.

MOROS Y CRISTIANOS (BLACK BEANS AND RICE)

Steps:

• Heat the oil in a large pot over moderate heat and saute the onion, bell pepper, and garlic until tender but not brown, about 5 minutes.
• Add the beans, tomatoes, stock, salt, pepper, and optional cayenne and simmer for 15 to 20 minutes. Serve over rice and garnish with fresh herbs.