Simple Stewed Beans

This spicy, savory and every so slightly sweet recipe for beans is a perfect protein packed complement to jollof rice and plantains for your meal prep plans.

Quick Directions .

Ingredients and Step-by-Step Instructions are further below

1. Pre-soak beans per package instructions

2. Prepare seasoned tomato broth for boiling beans

3. Boil beans following package instructions using prepared broth instead of water

4. Add mushrooms 15 mins before beans are ready

5. Cook for remaining 15 mins plus 5 mins more

Jollof rice ingredients

Ingredients

• 4 Tablespoons of olive oil (or any cooking oil)

• 2 big red onions (or yellow onions)

• 16 Oz pinto beans (or similar red or brown beans)

• 2-4 Cups water depending on boiling instructions for beans

• 2 x 15oz cans of tomato sauce

• 5-7 maggi cubes depending on salt preference. Start with 6 and add more if preferred when tasting during cooking

• 1 habanero pepper (I use 3 - 4)

• 2 x 8oz packages of baby bella mushrooms (or similar)

Step-by-Step Instructions

1. Sautée onions

   1. Dice onions and sautée onions on low heat until soft

2. Add liquids, spices, beans and cook

   1. Add cans of tomato sauce

   2. Add 2 cups less water than the amount specified in the directions for 10 servings of Brown rice. So if directions call for total of 4 cups, Add only 2 cups. The tomato sauce liquid makes up for the reduced water. IMPORTANT: You don’t want to drain the cooking broth during cooking even if beans packaging suggested recipe might say so. Use just enough water so water mostly evaporates leaving stewed beans. This varies on beans used and on method used in pre-soaking beans. I suggest starting with 2 cups water along with Tomato sauce.

   3. Add maggi cubes

   4. Add a whole habanero pepper (which you will remove later). This is a very spicy pepper. I  use 3 or 4 whole habaneros. But one is  a good place to start.

   5. Add Ground Crayfish (Optional. This adds a slight smokey fishy taste. Do not use if you prefer not to or if you are Vegan)

   6. Following  instructions of boiling beans from beans package, Cook until 15 min before beans are ready per instructions of your beans. While beans are cooking watch for the need to add water or open lid to let water evaporate quicker

   7. Remove any whole habanero peppers you’ve added

   8. Add mushrooms. Cook another 15 mins

Meal prep suggestion: Jollof Rice, Stewed Beans and Roasted Plantains

Meal prep suggestion: Jollof Rice, Stewed Beans and Roasted Plantains