Silky Red Bean Sauce Food

AMERICAN-STYLE RED BEANS AND RICE

Steps:

• In a large saucepan combine olive oil, kidney beans, tomato sauce, 1/2 cup water, oregano, basil, thyme, salt, pepper and 2 teaspoons adobo. Simmer on low heat.
• Meanwhile, bring 4 cups water to a boil. Add rice and stir. Reduce heat, cover and simmer for 20 minutes, or until rice is cooked and all liquid is absorbed. Stir in remaining 3 teaspoons adobo. Serve beans over the rice.

RED BEAN PASTA SAUCE

Steps:

• After having soaked the beans overnight or for at least 8 hours, place the beans in a large pot and cover with 6 cups of water. Add the bay leaves and the garlic cloves.
• Bring the beans to a boil over high heat and then reduce the heat to medium-low, keeping the beans at a simmer for an hour and a half, stirring frequently.
• Once the time is up, turn the heat off and set the beans aside. Leave them in the water with the lid on.
• Set a large pot of water to boil for your pasta. While you wait for the water to boil, prepare the rest of the sauce by heating the olive oil in a large, wide saucepan.
• Once the oil is hot, lower the heat to medium and add the onion and celery, stirring often. Be sure not to burn the mixture. Cook until the onion and celery have softened. This should take between 15 and 20 minutes.
• Drain the beans and add them to the mixture. Discard the bay leaves but add the garlic cloves to the mixture as well. Mash the cloves up so that they flavour the sauce. Add the red pepper flakes and salt to taste. Cook for 5 minutes and then turn the heat off while you cook your pasta.
• Once the water for the pasta has boiled, cook the pasta according to the package directions. Once the pasta is cooked, drain it and add it to the bean mixture. Turn the heat on low as you combine the pasta with the sauce. Add the parsley (optional) and serve immediately.
• Enjoy!

RED BEAN STEW

Steps:

• Drain the beans through a strainer set over a bowl. Place the beans in a large soup pot or Dutch oven. Measure the soaking water in the bowl, and add enough water to it to measure 2 1/2 quarts. Add this to the pot with the beans, turn the heat to medium-high and bring to a gentle boil. Skim off any foam and/or bean skins.
• Meanwhile, heat 1 tablespoon of the oil over medium heat in a large, heavy skillet and add the onions, carrots and peppers. Cook, stirring often, until the vegetables are tender and fragrant, about 8 to 10 minutes. Add 2 of the garlic cloves and continue to cook for another minute or so, until the garlic is fragrant. Season to taste with salt, add another tablespoon of oil and add the paprika. Cook, stirring, for a couple of minutes, until the vegetables are well coated with paprika and the mixture is aromatic. Add a ladleful of simmering water from the beans to the pan, stir with a wooden spoon or heatproof spatula, scraping the bottom and sides of the pan to deglaze, then stir this mixture into the beans. Add the tomato paste and bay leaf, reduce the heat, cover and simmer 1 hour.
• Add the oregano, the remaining garlic cloves, salt to taste, cayenne, vinegar and sugar, and continue to simmer for another hour. The beans should be thoroughly tender and the broth thick and fragrant. Taste and adjust salt, and add more cayenne if desired. For a thicker stew, strain out 1 heaped cup of beans with a little liquid and purée. Stir back into the stew.
• Just before serving, stir in the parsley. Serve over noodles or thick slices of country bread, topping each portion with a large dollop of drained yogurt.

SILKY RED BEAN SAUCE

Steps:

• Place the soaked beans in a medium saucepan with 1 quart of cold water and the Bouquet Garni. Bring to a boil, then reduce the heat and simmer until the beans are tender but not mushy, about 1 hour. After the beans have simmered for 30 minutes, heat the olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add the onion and poblano and cook, stirring, for about 5 minutes. Add the garlic and cook for 2 more minutes, then transfer the vegetables to the saucepan with beans and stir in the tomato puree, chipotle, and chile powder. (If using canned beans, rinse them and place in a medium saucepan with 1 cup of water and the sautéed ingredients, chipotle, chile powder, and tomato puree). If your beans start looking dry (they should be submerged and moist throughout the simmering), add a little more water. Cook for about 15 more minutes, and when the beans and vegetables are very soft, season to taste with salt and pepper. Drain them, reserving the liquid, and cool. Place the beans in a blender with the cilantro, lime juice, and a cup of the cooking liquid. Puree them, adding more liquid as necessary to make a smooth, viscous sauce (the consistency of pancake batter). You may need to do this in two batches. Pour the sauce into a pot and keep warm until ready to use. If necessary, you can add a little water.

VIKKI'S RED BEAN SAUSAGE

Steps:

• Heat oil in a large skillet over medium high heat. Add sausage and onion and saute until onions are translucent. Add bell pepper, garlic, parsley, paprika, cayenne pepper and ground black pepper. Saute all together, stirring occasionally, until bell pepper is a little tender (about 10 minutes).
• Drain and rinse kidney beans. Add all kidney beans, tomatoes and chile peppers. Stir to mix together, reduce heat to medium and let simmer for 25 to 30 minutes. Add salt to taste while simmering. Serve hot.

BAKED RAJMA (PUNJABI-STYLE RED BEANS WITH CREAM)

Steps:

• Heat the oven to 350 degrees. Quarter the onion, then thinly slice one portion. Set aside sliced onion. Add the remaining onion to a food processor, along with the garlic, chile and ginger. Purée until fairly smooth, scraping down the sides of the bowl as needed.
• In a large, deep ovenproof skillet, heat the oil over medium. Add the cumin seeds and cook until lightly toasted, about 30 seconds. Add the onion mixture and salt, and cook, stirring occasionally, until the excess liquid has evaporated and the mixture is just starting to take on a golden color, 8 to 10 minutes.
• While the mixture cooks, purée the canned tomatoes and their juices, if using diced, chopped or whole tomatoes.
• Add the beans and chile powder to the onion mixture, and mix well. Use a fork to mash a tablespoon or so of the beans against the side of the skillet to help thicken the sauce.
• Add the crushed or puréed tomatoes and garam masala to the beans, and mix well. Drizzle the top with cream or scatter with cheese, then slide into the oven and bake, uncovered, until the sauce has thickened and the top is lightly browned, 30 to 40 minutes.
• Prepare the pickle: While the beans are baking, bring a small saucepan of water to a boil. Transfer 1/4 cup hot water to a small bowl. Stir in the sugar and salt until dissolved. Add the reserved onion slices to the boiling water in the saucepan, turn off the heat and, after 1 minute, drain the onion. Transfer the softened onion to the small bowl and stir in the vinegar.
• When the beans are ready, fish out the pickled onion slices and arrange on top, letting a few drops of the pickling liquid flick over the beans to season them. Garnish with cilantro and serve with hot rice, buttered toast or flour tortillas.