Cuban Black Beans

Name: Cuban Black Beans
Prep time: 10 min
Cook time: 3 h
Total time: 3 h 10 min
Ingredients: 16 ounces uncooked dry black beans (1 bag); 2 bay leaves; 1 onion, (cut into large pieces); 6 cloves garlic, diced; 1 green pepper, (cut into large pieces); 2 jalapeno peppers, (seeded and diced); 2 Tablespoons olive oil, (plus 1 Tablespoon reserved); oregano, to taste; white vinegar, to taste; ground cumin, to taste

heracliteanfire

Prep 10 mins10m

Cook 3 hrs3h

You know what one of the best things in the world is? Having your entire house become consumed by the scent of whatever dish you’re making. Some of my favorite things to make are probably my favorite because of this, with these beans being one of them.

These black beans also remind me of Christmas. I’m part Cuban so I’ve been fortunate to grow up with many foods from the culture. On Christmas Eve, we have roast pork, black beans and rice, and yucca, in addition to appetizers, a salad and dessert.

My Aunt Shirley has been tasked with these black beans every Christmas Eve for as far back as I can remember, and maybe even before I was born. To find a better tasting pot of beans is near impossible.

Aunt Shirley also makes some of the best dishes. Staples in my family, if you will, but she comes from the ‘little bit of this, little bit of that’ way of cooking so there is not an exact recipe that I can share with all of you. This dish is very much made to taste. All I know is to season little by little until you get it exactly how you want it. You should be sure to add a lot of oregano. Use extra vinegar if you are a vinegar lover like I am.

When plating, I sprinkle with dried oregano and top with sliced pickled banana peppers. Sometimes I’ll just top with chopped white onion and chow down.

↬ Adapted from Cuban Black Beans

Ingredients

16 ounces uncooked dry black beans (1 bag)
2 bay leaves
1 onion, (cut into large pieces)
6 cloves garlic, diced
1 green pepper, (cut into large pieces)
2 jalapeno peppers, (seeded and diced)
2 tablespoons olive oil, (plus 1 Tablespoon reserved)
oregano, to taste
white vinegar, to taste
ground cumin, to taste

Instructions

Keep screen awake

1
Clean beans well and pour into large pot; cover the beans with water and set to boil.
2
When water and beans are boiling, add bay leaves, 1/2 of the onion, 1/2 the garlic, 1/2 the green pepper and 2 of the hot peppers. Let cook.
3
When beans are nearly cooked, saute the remaining onion, garlic, and green pepper in 2 tbsp olive oil until translucent, then add to beans.
4
Add oregano, white vinegar, cumin, (to taste) and 1 tbsp olive oil and continue to cook until beans are tender.

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