Beans With Tomato Coriander And Coconut Milk Recipes

FREJON (BEANS IN COCONUT MILK)

Steps:

• Pick through the beans for rocks, bad grains or twigs. Transfer the beans to a large bowl and add cold water to cover by at least 2 inches. Allow to soak for 4 hours or up to 12 hours. Rinse the beans and transfer them to a large, heavy-bottomed pot. Add enough water to cover the beans by 2 inches.
• Wrap the thyme, bay leaf and half the onion in a piece of cheesecloth and tie it with twine. Add to the pot and bring the mixture to a boil over high heat. Reduce to low, partly cover with a lid and simmer until the beans are completely tender, about 1 1/2 hours. Season with salt and allow beans to cool slightly in the cooking liquid. Discard the bouquet garni.
• Strain the beans, discarding liquid, and transfer the beans to a food processor. Pour in 3/4 cup coconut milk and purée until smooth. Add more coconut milk for a smoother, thinner purée, if desired. Return the bean mixture to the pot, cover and keep warm on low heat, stirring occasionally to keep the bottom from scorching.
• Thinly slice the remaining onion. Heat the olive oil in a medium skillet over medium-high. Add the sliced onion and bell pepper, and sauté, stirring occasionally, until softened and just beginning to brown around the edges, 4 to 5 minutes. Add the garlic, habanero and dried crayfish powder, if using, and cook until fragrant, about 1 minute. Add the tomatoes and their juices, tearing the tomatoes into large chunks as you add them.
• Add 1/4 cup water, bring to a simmer then reduce heat to low. Cook, stirring frequently, until sauce is slightly reduced and flavors meld together, about 6 minutes. Stir in the red palm oil and cook an additional 2 to 3 minutes. Remove from heat, discard the habanero, and season sauce to taste with salt.
• Combine the mint, cilantro, scallions and lime zest in a small bowl. Divide the bean purée among bowls, top with a healthy spoonful of the chunky tomato sauce and garnish with the herb and lime zest mixture. Sprinkle the garri on top, if using, and serve with lime wedges.

CRANBERRY BEANS WITH TOMATOES AND HERBS

Steps:

• Place olive oil in a 5-quart casserole with a tight-fitting lid. Cook, uncovered, at 100 percent power in a high-power oven for 2 minutes. Add onions and stir to coat with oil. Cook, uncovered, for 4 minutes.
• Drain beans and stir them in. Cook, uncovered, for 3 minutes. Stir in tomatoes, sage and savory. Cook, covered, for 45 minutes, stirring twice.
• Remove from oven and uncover. Season with salt and pepper. Cook, covered, for 7 minutes to reheat.

WHITE BEANS IN COCONUT MILK

Steps:

• Finely chop onion and garlic clove.
• Chop tomato.
• Heat oil in a skillet.
• Cook onion and garlic in oil for 3 minutes.
• Add chopped tomato, salt, pepper and turmeric, stir.
• Add beans and coconut milk and let the mixture simmer uncovered for 5-10 minutes.
• Check the taste and add more seasonings if you prefer.

TOMATO, RUNNER BEAN & COCONUT CURRY

Steps:

• Heat the oil in a large, heavy-based saucepan. Add the onion and cook for 5-10 mins on a medium heat until softened. Add the paste, coriander stalks and lime zest, and cook for 1-2 mins until fragrant. Tip in the red lentils, coconut milk and 400ml hot water, and bring to the boil. Turn down the heat and simmer for 15 mins. Meanwhile, put a pan of water on to boil and cook the rice following pack instructions.
• Add the tomatoes and runner beans to the lentils and cook for a further 5 mins. Drain the rice. Add the lime juice to the curry, check the seasoning and sprinkle over the coriander leaves. Serve with the rice and lime wedges for squeezing over.

BEANS WITH TOMATO, CORIANDER AND COCONUT MILK

Steps:

• Having soaked the beans in cold water overnight, boil them until tender in deep, unsalted water. The choice of beans is up to you; I've tried it once with black-eyed beans and once with chickpeas, and it worked pretty well with both. Beans should be tender in about 30-40 minutes. Set the beans aside once cooked. If you are using canned beans, rinse them under cold running water.
• Peels the onions, cut them in half and slice them thinly. Add them to the oil in a large, deep pan and let them soften, colouring lightly, over a moderate heat. Peel, chop and add the garlic.
• Meanwhile, crack the cardamon seeds open and extract the seeds. Crush them coarsely using a pestle and mortar or a very heavy rolling pin, then stir them into the softening onions. Crush the coriander seeds and then the mustard and add them to the onions with the whole cumin seeds, ground turmeric, a generous seasoning of salt, and black pepper. Leave these as they cook, stirring regularly, for at least 5 minutes, so that the spices toast in the heat.
• Meanwhile, seed and finely chop the chillies and add, with the chopped tomatoes, 400ml of water and a pinch of sugar, followed by the cooked beans. Leave to simmer gently over a low heat, with the occasional stir, partially covered by a lid, for about 35-40 minutes. Mix the coconut milk into the sauce, simmer for a further 5 minutes, then add the coriander leaves and the juice of the limes.