Cuban Black Beans Original Recipes

CUBAN BLACK BEANS

Steps:

• Cut 1 green pepper into 1-inch squares. Smash and peel 4 of the garlic cloves. Put the green pepper and garlic into a large pot with the beans, ham hock, bay leaves and 1 tablespoon salt. Add 2 quarts water and bring to a boil. Cover the pot and simmer until the beans are tender, an hour or more.
• Meanwhile, make a sofrito. Cut the remaining ½ green pepper into ¼-inch dice. Peel and finely chop the remaining garlic. Heat the olive oil in a very large skillet over medium-high heat. Add the bacon and cook, stirring occasionally, until it starts to brown, about 5 minutes. Add the green pepper and onion and cook, stirring, until slightly softened, about 3 minutes. Add the garlic, jalapeño (leave out the seeds if you don't want it too spicy), oregano, cumin, black pepper and 2 teaspoons salt and stir for another minute. Pour in the vinegar and scrape any browned bits from bottom of pan with a wooden spoon. This is your sofrito.
• When the beans are cooked, discard the bay leaf. Remove and set aside the ham hock and let it cool. Transfer 1 cup of beans to small bowl, mash them into a paste with the back of a fork and return to the pot. Add the sofrito, then the sugar. Pull the meat from the ham hock, leaving behind any white sinew or gristle. Chop the ham into ½-inch pieces and return it to the bean pot.
• Stir the beans well and bring to a boil over medium heat, then lower to a simmer and cook, uncovered, for 20 minutes or so, skimming any foam from the top. Taste for salt and serve with white rice.

CUBAN-STYLE BLACK BEANS

Steps:

• Soak the beans with the baking soda in 10 cups of water for about 3 hours. Rinse and drain.
• Add the beans to a Dutch oven and add 10 cups fresh water, along with the olive oil, cumin, oregano, sugar, vinegar, cilantro stems, bay leaves and onion. Simmer until the beans are soft, about 2 hours. Add 2 teaspoons of salt (or more to taste) and freshly ground black pepper to taste.

CUBAN BLACK BEANS (FRIJOLES NEGROS)

Steps:

• Combine black beans in a large pot over medium heat. Add olive oil, garlic, sugar, bay leaf, sazon seasoning, garlic powder, onion powder, cumin, oregano, salt, and pepper; stir to combine. Stir in onion and bell pepper. Cover pot and simmer until flavors are well combined and onions and bell peppers are cooked thoroughly, 8 to 15 minutes.
• Remove lid and adjust seasoning.

PACIFIC CUBAN BLACK BEANS AND RICE

Steps:

• Bring water and rice to a boil in a saucepan. Reduce heat to medium-low, cover, and simmer until the rice is tender and liquid has been absorbed, 20 to 25 minutes.
• Heat olive oil in a stockpot over medium-high heat; saute onion, bell pepper, carrots, celery, and garlic in hot oil until tender, about 5 minutes.
• Mix black beans with liquid, chorizo, chicken stock, picante sauce, bay leaves, paprika, red wine vinegar, cumin, sugar, salt, black pepper, and red pepper flakes together in the pot with the onion mixture; bring to a boil, reduce heat to medium-low, place a cover on the pot, and simmer until the beans have softened, about 30 minutes.
• Remove lid from pot and continue cooking until the mixture reaches your desired consistency, at least 20 minutes more. Remove bay leaves and adjust seasoning to your preferences. Serve over rice.

CUBAN BLACK BEANS AND RICE

Steps:

• In a large stockpot cover beans with water and boil for 2 minutes.
• Remove from heat and let stand for one hour.
• Drain water and cover with fresh water (6 cups).
• In a skillet saute the onions, bell pepper and garlic in oil for 5 minutes, until tender.
• Add onion mixture and all remaining ingredients, except the red wine vinegar, to the beans and bring to a boil.
• Reduce heat to simmer covered for 2 hours, until beans are tender.
• Add more water if necessary.
• At the last minute add the red wine vinegar, just before serving.
• Serve with 2 cups of cooked rice.
• Top with chopped green onions, chopped hard boiled eggs or sour cream.

CUBAN BLACK BEANS II

Steps:

• Place beans in a large saucepan with enough water to cover, and soak 8 hours, or overnight; drain.
• Heat oil in a medium saucepan over medium heat, and saute onion, green bell pepper, and garlic until tender.
• Into the onion mixture, stir the drained beans, water, tomato paste, pimentos, and vinegar. Season with salt, sugar, and pepper. Bring to a boil. Cover, reduce heat, and simmer 1 1/2 hours, stirring occasionally, until beans are tender.

CUBAN BLACK BEANS

Steps:

• Wash beans.
• In a large pot, soak the beans with the first chopped bell pepper in water until swollen. Overnight?.
• **It doesn't say so but I'd drain it at this point and add new water so the beans won't be so musical if you know what I mean.**.
• Cook until soft about 45 minutes.
• Heat oil in a medium pan. Add onion, second bell pepper and garlic and cook until soft.
• Add 1 cup of cooked beans and mash them well. Add mixture to bean pot.
• Add dry seasonings to the pot.
• Cover and boil 1 hour.
• Add vinegar and wine.
• Cover and simmer 1 hour.
• If broth is too watery, uncover and cook until it thickens.
• Just before serving stir in the olive oil.

ABUELA'S FRIJOLES NEGROS - GRANDMA'S CUBAN BLACK BEANS

Steps:

• Wash beans and let them soak in water and half of the green pepper over night at room temperature.
• Once beans have swollen, simmer on stove until they become soft (about 45 minutes).
• Heat olive oil in pan and sauté onion, garlic, and the rest of the green pepper.
• Add 1 cup of the coked beans to pan and mash well.
• Return entire mixture to pot with beans.
• Add salt, pepper, oregano, bay leaf, and sugar.
• Cover and return to boil.
• Simmer for 1 hour longer.
• Add vinegar and dry wine, cover and simmer for one hour longer.
• If beans are still too wet after this time, cook uncovered until they thicken.
• Remove bay leaf and top with olive oil prior to serving.

CUBAN BLACK BEANS I

Steps:

• In a large bowl, soak beans in water to cover overnight.
• Rinse beans, and transfer to a large stock pot. Add onion, bell peppers, bay leaves, paprika, cumin, oregano, and chile peppers, along with water to cover. Bring to a boil, reduce heat, and simmer for 1 1/2 hours.
• Test beans for tenderness, and when tender add garlic and balsamic vinegar. Salt and pepper to taste.

CUBAN-STYLE BLACK BEANS

Steps:

• Place the black beans and the 4 cups of water in a large stockpot.
• Cover and let boil for 2 minute.
• Turn off the heat and let stand, covered, for 1 hour.
• Remove the lid, and add the rest of the ingredients, EXCEPT the vinegar, salt and pepper. There should be enough liquid (chicken stock and water) to just cover the beans. If needed add more of either liquid to cover.
• Cover and simmer until the beans are tender, about 2 hours.
• Take out the hocks and remove the meat from the bones and fat.
• Return the meat to the pot; discard fat and bones.
• Add the vinegar, salt and pepper.
• Simmer long enough to heat the vinegar throught the beans.
• Serve over white rice.

CUBAN BLACK BEANS

Steps:

• Rinse and sort beans; soak according to package directions. Drain and rinse beans, discarding liquid. , Place beans in a large saucepan; add 6 cups water and bay leaf. Bring to a boil. Reduce heat; cover and simmer until tender, 1-1/2 to 2 hours., Meanwhile, in a large skillet, saute peppers and onions in oil until tender. Add garlic; cook 1 minute longer. Stir in the tomato puree, sherry, sugar and salt. Bring to a boil. Reduce heat; simmer, uncovered, until thickened, 8-10 minutes. Drain beans; discard bay leaf. Stir beans into tomato mixture.

MOROS Y CRISTIANOS (CUBAN BLACK BEANS AND RICE)

Steps:

• Heat oil in a Dutch oven over medium heat. Add bell pepper, onion, and garlic; cook and stir until onion is translucent, about 5 minutes. Stir in crushed tomatoes and vinegar. Add cumin, salt, thyme, pepper flakes, and bay leaf. Cook for 3 minutes.
• Add black beans, then stir in white rice. Pour in chicken stock and bring to a boil. Reduce heat to low, cover, and simmer until rice is tender and all liquid has been absorbed, about 25 minutes; do not lift the cover during the cook time.