Red Beans and Rice

Recipe courtesy Emeril Lagasse, 2001


Ingredients

1 pound dried red beans, rinsed and sorted over
3 tablespoons bacon grease
1/4 cup chopped tasso, or chopped ham
1 1/2 cups chopped yellow onions
3/4 cup chopped celery
3/4 cup chopped green bell peppers
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
Pinch cayenne
3 bay leaves
2 tablespoons chopped fresh parsley
2 teaspoons fresh thyme
1/2 pound smoked sausage, split in half lengthwise and cut into 1-inch pieces
1 pound smoked ham hocks
3 tablespoons chopped garlic
10 cups chicken stock, or water
4 cups cooked white rice
1/4 cup chopped green onions, garnish




Directions

Place the beans in a large bowl or pot and cover with water by 2 inches. Let soak for 8 hours or overnight. Drain and set aside.

In a large pot, heat the bacon grease over medium-high heat. Add the tasso and cook, stirring, for 1 minute. Add the onions, celery and bell peppers to the grease in the pot. Season with the salt, pepper, and cayenne, and cook, stirring, until the vegetables are soft, about 4 minutes. Add the bay leaves, parsley, thyme, sausage, and ham hocks, and cook, stirring, to brown the sausage and ham hocks, about 4 minutes. Add the garlic and cook for 1 minute. Add the beans and stock or water, stir well, and bring to a boil. Reduce the heat to medium-low and simmer, uncovered, stirring occasionally, until the beans are tender and starting to thicken, about 2 hours. (Should the beans become too thick and dry, add more water, about 1/4 cup at a time.)



Remove from the heat and with the back of a heavy spoon, mash about 1/4 of the beans against the side of the pot. Continue to cook until the beans are tender and creamy, 15 to 20 minutes. Remove from the heat and remove the bay leaves.

Serve over rice and garnish with green onions.

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Vegetable Gumbo

 


Yield: 25 servings

Ingredients

2 qt. diced onions
2 cups corn oil
1 qt. diced celery
3 cups diced
green peppers
3 cups diced red peppers
1⁄4 cup diced garlic
1 tbsp. minced
jalapeño pepper
1⁄4 cup dry thyme
2 bay leaves
3 qt. vegetable stock
1 # 10 can diced tomatoes in juice,
half puréed
3 lb. frozen sliced okra
3 tbsp. salt
1 tbsp. pepper
11⁄2 cups flour
Carolina Gold Rice
Yield: About 61⁄2 cups (25 servings)
2 cups Carolina gold rice
11⁄2 tsp. corn oil
1 qt. warm water
2 tsp. salt

Steps

1. Sauté onions in half of corn oil until a bit tender. Add celery; sauté for 5 minutes. Add peppers and sauté for 5 minutes.

2. Add garlic, jalapeño, thyme and bay leaves. Stir in stock, tomatoes, okra and salt. Simmer for 25 minutes. Add pepper.

3. Prepare roux. Cook flour and remaining oil together over medium heat, whisking often until roux is a bit darker than peanut butter.

4. Add roux to gumbo; simmer for 10 minutes. Taste and correct seasoning.

5. To serve: Add 1 oz. small dice yellow and green squash and 1 oz. blanched corn kernels to each 10-oz. serving. Top each bowl with ¼ cup Carolina Gold Rice (recipe follows).

For Carolina Gold Rice:

1. Cover rice with very hot, but not boiling, water. Soak for 5 minutes, then drain rice and discard water.
Let rice drain for at least 15 minutes so it’s mostly dry.
2. In saucepan, sauté rice in oil.

Add water and salt. Bring to a boil. Simmer until liquid evaporates, about 20 minutes.

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Cuban Black Beans and Rice

SERVES 12

* 1 lb dried black beans, sorted and rinsed
* 1 large onion, chopped
* 1 large bell pepper, chopped
* 5 cloves garlic, finely chopped
* 2 bay leaves
* 1 (14 1/2 ounce) can diced tomatoes, undrained
* 5 cups water
* 2 tablespoons olive oil
* 4 tablespoons ground cumin (optional)
* 1 finely chopped jalapeno
* 1 teaspoon salt
* 3 cups hot cooked rice, for serving

Soak beans overnight.

Combine all ingredients except rice in slow cooker 6 to 8 hours or until beans are tender and most of the liquid is absorbed.

Remove bay leaves.

Serve beans over rice.

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Molokhia (Egyptian Greens Soup)

Sentia Female Sexual Enhancer

Molokhia (Melokiyah, etc.) is a traditional dish in Egypt and Sudan -- some people believe it originated among Egyptians during the time of the Pharaohs. Others believe that it was first prepared by ancient Jews. Molokhia is a mucilaginous, nutritious soup made from a type of greens, known as molokhia or Jew's mallow (also called Nalta jute, Tussa jute, Corchorus olitorius), which is found throughout Egypt, the Levant, and similar climes elsewhere. Dried or frozen molokhia greens may be obtained from Middle Eastern or Asian grocery stores worldwide.

What you need

* six cups chicken stock
* one pound fresh molokhia leaves or frozen molokhia leaves (thawed) -- or -- a similar amount of spinach; stems removed, cleaned, rinsed in cold water, and patted dry (frozen molokhia is usually already cleaned and chopped)
* one tablespoon tomato paste (optional)
* one hot chile pepper, cleaned and chopped (optional)
* one bay leaf (optional)
* one small onion, finely chopped (optional)
* black pepper, to taste
* two tablespoons olive oil, butter, or any cooking oil
* several cloves (or more) of garlic, minced
* one teaspoon ground coriander
* one teaspoon salt
* one tablespoon fresh coriander leaves (also called cilantro) or fresh parsley, finely chopped (optional)
* juice of one lemon or a teaspoon vinegar (optional)
* ground cayenne pepper or red pepper, to taste (optional)

What you do

* Chop the molokhia leaves as finely as possible. This should leave them bright green and slightly slimey. In Egypt, the perfect tool to finely chop molokhia leaves is a makhrata -- a curved knife with two handles similar to the Italian mezzaluna. (Get one of these kitchen cutters and you'll love it so much you'll be using it by the light of a half-moon!) Some Egyptian cooks prefer to cut the molokhia leaves by rolling them into a tight bundle and using a very sharp knife to shave them into thin slices.
* Over high heat, bring the chicken stock to a near boil in a large pot. Add the molokhia, stirring well. Add the tomato paste, chile pepper, bay leaf, and onion (if desired), and black pepper, continuing to stir. Reduce heat and simmer. The molokhia will simmer for about twenty minutes. (Allow an extra ten if frozen molokhia is not completely thawed.)
* After the chicken stock and molokhia have simmered for about ten minutes: heat the oil (or butter) in a skillet. Using either the back of a spoon in a bowl or a sharp knife on a cutting board, grind the garlic, ground coriander, and the salt together into a paste. Fry the mixture in the oil for two to four minutes, stirring constantly, until the garlic is slightly browned.
* After the garlic has been browned and the molokhia is nearly done (after it has been simmering for about twenty minutes and has broken down to make a thick soup), add the garlic mixture and the oil it was fried in to the simmering molokhia. Stir well.
* Add any of the remaining optional ingredients that you like. Continue simmering and stirring occasionally for a few more minutes.
* Adjust seasoning. Serve immediately, hot. Molokhia soup is often served over boiled Rice and sometimes with boiled chicken.

Molokhia is prized for its mucilaginous quality, a quality which spinach lacks. If using spinach, the addition of a few tender okra pods, very finely chopped, will serve to thicken the soup.

If using dried molokhia, rub the leaves between your hand to crumble them into small pieces, moisten these with a few spoonfuls of water then proceed with the recipe. Frozen Mulukhiya is sold already cleaned and chopped, ready to use.

The fried garlic and coriander mixture is known as ta'lya (ta'leya, ta'liya) and is used in many Egyptian dishes. Some cooks leave out the salt; others add the onion and/or the tomato paste to the ta'lya. The ta'lya can also be added to the molokhia earlier.

A richer Molokhia Chicken soup can be obtained by boiling a pound of cut-up chicken meat in the chicken stock before adding the molokhia leaves. Some cooks add a bit of cardamom or cinnamon.

If you like molokhia, consider yourself lucky that you didn't live in Egypt a thousand years ago: Consumption of molokhia was banned (along with a great many other things) during the reign of the Fatimid Caliph al-Hakim (c.1000 AD).

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CARIBBEAN VEGGIE PEPPER POT

Vegetarian Cooking for Everyone
• 1 tablespoon coconut oil or canola oil

• 1 onion, chopped

• 1/4 cup chopped fresh garlic

• 1/4 cup chopped fresh ginger

• 1 jalapeño pepper (or 1/4 habanero), chopped

• 1 ½ teaspoons ground allspice

• 1 sweet potato (about 1 pound), peeled and chopped

• 2 carrots, peeled and chopped

• 1 bunch collards, callalloo or spinach, chopped (3 to 4 cups, loosely packed)

• 4 cups vegetable broth

• 1 teaspoon fresh thyme leaves

• 1 bay leaf

• Juice of 1 lime

• Sea salt and freshly ground pepper to taste

Heat oil in a soup pot over medium-high heat. Sauté the onion, garlic, ginger and jalapeño, stirring occasionally, until vegetables soften, about 5 minutes.

Stir in allspice, sweet potato and carrots. Add greens a handful at a time and stir until they wilt, about 3 minutes.

Add broth and bring heat to high. When broth comes to a boil, add thyme and bay leaf. Reduce heat to low, cover and simmer for about 30 minutes, until vegetables are tender.

Squeeze in lime juice and season with salt and pepper. Makes 4 servings.

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Deep Fried Black Eyed Peas

Prep Time: 20 Minutes
Cook Time: 10 Minutes

Ready In: 8 Hours 30 Minutes
Servings: 16
"An unusual crunchy snack, black-eyed peas are soaked overnight, cooked with onion and jalapeno pepper, then deep fried and tossed with seasonings. "
Ingredients:
1 pound dried black-eyed peas, sorted
and rinsed
1 onion, cut into large dice
2 bay leaves
1 jalapeno pepper, seeded and diced

canola oil for frying
2 teaspoons seafood seasoning (such
as Old Bay®)
1/2 teaspoon kosher salt
Directions:
1.Place the black-eyed peas into a large container and cover with several inches of cool water; let stand 8 hours to overnight.
2.The next day, drain and rinse the peas. Pour in enough water to cover the peas by 3-inches, then stir in the onion, bay leaves, and jalapeno pepper. Bring to a boil, reduce heat to low, and simmer until the peas are tender but not mushy, 40 to 50 minutes. Add more water if needed to keep the peas covered while cooking. Drain the peas in a colander set in the sink, and spread them onto a baking sheet lined with paper towels or dish towels to drain. Discard bay leaves, and refrigerate the peas until ready to fry.
3.Heat oil in a deep-fryer or large saucepan to 375 degrees F (190 degrees C).
4.Carefully pour about 1 1/2 cups of peas into the hot oil per batch, and fry until crisp, 4 to 7 minutes. Remove the peas, drain on paper towels, and toss the hot peas in a bowl with seafood seasoning and kosher salt. Serve hot.

ALL RIGHTS RESERVED © 2010 Allrecipes.com

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Groundnut Stew

Groundnut is the common African word for peanut, and Groundnut Stew or Groundnut Chop is one of many Chop dishes; the Western African version of the Chicken in Peanut-Tomato Sauce eaten all over sub-Saharan Africa. The Western African style is usually more elaborate, with more ingredients and garnishes. Palm-Oil Chop is similar to Groundnut Stew: the main difference is that peanuts (or peanut butter) in Groundnut Stew replace the palm nuts (or canned palm soup base) and in Palm-Oil Chop.

What you need

• one or two sweet potatoes, or a similar amount of yams, peeled and cut into cubes (optional)
• peanut oil (or other cooking oil)
• one or two chickens, cut into large bite-sized pieces (you can also use equal parts chicken and beef or stew meat)
• salt (to taste)
• black pepper (to taste)
• chicken broth or stock (optional)
• two or three tomatoes, chopped (or canned tomaoes, or tomato sauce or tomato paste)
• one or two onions, chopped very fine
• one clove garlic, minced (optional)
• one or two hot chile peppers, chopped (optional)
• one-half teaspoon ground ginger or coriander
• pinch of thyme or a bay leaf
• one-quarter cup dried shrimp or dried prawns (optional)
• one medium eggplant (aubergine, or guinea squash) or a dozen okra, or canned beans, or canned corn (optional)
• sweet green pepper (or bell pepper), chopped (optional)
• squash, chopped (optional)
• one cup peanut butter (preferably natural and unsweetened) -- or make your own peanut paste by roasting peanuts, removing the shells and skins, and grinding, mashing, or mincing them, then simmer them in a saucepan with a cup of water

What you do

• If using sweet potatoes or yams:
  Boil or steam them until they begin to become tender.
• In a large pot or dutch oven fry the meat in hot oil, until browned. Add salt and pepper. Reduce heat, add a cup of water or chicken broth and simmer.
• Heat oil in a skillet. Fry the tomatoes, onions, garlic, chile peppers over high heat. Add spices. Add the optional vegetables, sweet potatoes or yams, and/or dried shrimp or prawns. Reduce heat and stir in peanut butter and a bit of water or broth. Stir until smooth.
• Add the tomato-onion-peanut mixture to the simmering meat. Stir throughly and continue to simmer until the meat is cooked and the vegetables are tender.
• Serve with boiled Rice and as many garnishes as possible:
  • hard-boiled eggs, peeled (everyone must have a hard-boiled egg); these are sometimes added to the pot and cooked with the stew a few minutes before serving
  • sliced boiled yam or sweet potato
  • breadcrumbs or croutons
  • sliced fruit: such as banana, mango, orange, papaya, pineapple, etc.
  • shredded lettuce
  • parsley
  • chopped nuts
  • shredded coconut
  • sliced tomato
  • sliced onion: raw or fried
  • chile peppers
  • chutney
  • African Hot Sauce
  • salt, black pepper, red pepper
• Serve Ginger Beer or Green Tea with Mint with or after the meal.
• Follow with Fruit Salad.

This dish also can be made without the meat. Use sweet potatoes and as many of the optional vegetables as possible for the vegetarian version.

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Ital Stew Peas (Veggie Stew Peas)

Ital Stew Peas is sometimes called Veggie Stew Peas or Vegetarian Stew Peas

INGREDIENTS :

* 2 cups red peas (kidney beans)
* 2 whole scotch bonnet peppers (if you like it hot cut the pepper up)
* ¼ cup water
* 2 cups coconut milk
* bay leaves
* 10 pimento grains (allspice)
* cloves garlic (1 crushed and 3 whole)
* 3 chopped scallions
* 1 small onion chopped
* 3 sprigs of thyme
* ½ teaspoon black pepper
* 1 teaspoon natural sea salt (sold in stores)
* 2 potatoes (Irish), cubed
* 1 sweet potato, cubed
* 3 carrots, sliced
* Veggie spinners/dumplings (See Recipe Below)

METHOD:

1. Soak the peas in water for a least 10-12 hours in the pot
2. Place coconut milk, bay leaves, scallion, pimento grain, whole garlic and whole pepper in the pot.
3. Slowly boil and simmer for 1 ½ hours or until the peas are tender.
4. Season by adding the onions, crushed garlic and thyme.
5. Add carrots, spinners and potatoes
6. Let simmer for 30 minutes
7. Remove the scallions, bay leaves and hot pepper before serving.
8. Serve hot with white rice.

Jambalaya

Ingredients

1/2 pound cooked chicken meat
1/2 pound cooked ham
1 pound cooked sausages
1 small green bell pepper
1 large yellow onion
3 cloves garlic
5 scallions
3 large tomatoes
1/4 cup vegetable oil
2 tablespoons all-purpose flour
1/2 teaspoon dried thyme
1/2 teaspoon ground cumin
1/2 teaspoon ground allspice
2 bay leaves
Salt, ground black pepper, and cayenne pepper to taste.
2 cups long-grain white rice
3 cups chicken, beef, or vegetable stock, or as needed

Chop the chicken and the ham into bite-sized pieces; you should have about 1-1/2 cups of each. Cut the sausages into 1/2 inch thick slices. Seed the bell pepper, then chop the bell pepper, yellow onion, garlic, and the scallions, including the tender green tops. chop the tomatoes.

In a large heavy skillet over medium heat, warm the vegetable oil. Add the ham and sausage and saute until well browned, 7 to 10 minutes. Add the flour, stir well, and add the bell pepper, yellow onion, garlic, and scallions and saute until softened, about 5 minutes. Add the tomatoes, thyme, cumin, allspice, bay leaves, salt, black and cayenne peppers, and chicken and mix well. Then stir in the rice and pour in the stock. The liquid should just cover the contents of the skillet. Bring to a boil, cover, reduce the heat to low, and cook until the rice is tender, about 20 minutes.

To serve, remove and discard the bay leaf. Spoon the rice and meats onto a platter.
Serves 6-8

Jag (Jagacida)

3 medium onions
9 cups of rice
3 pounds of frozen lima beans
salt, pepper and paprika to taste
6 bay leaves
1 bunch fresh parsley
12 tablespoons of oil

Chop onions and place in a 2 qt. pan. Simmer until golden brown. Add 18 cups of water to onions and season (to taste) with salt, pepper, paprika, bay leaves and parsley. Bring to a boil and add 9 cups of rice. Lower heat, add beans, cover pan and simmer for 25 minutes or until water is absorbed and rice is cooked. Turn off stove and let stand. Serve with linguica.