Jamaican Chef Ajeen Beckford Black Bean Soup Recipes

JAMAICAN CHEF AJEEN BECKFORD BLACK BEAN SOUP

Steps:

• Combine the beans and stock and bring to a simmer, covered, for 2 hours.
• Remove half of the beans from the pot. Puree and then return to the pot.
• Add the remaining ingredients and simmer, covered for 1 hour.
• Serve with cilantro sour cream.

BLACK BEAN SOUP WITH HABANEROS (CAN BE SPICY OR NOT)

Steps:

• Soak beans overnight in 4 cups of water. Drain off the water and put beans in a large pot.
• Add 10 cups of water to the pot with the beans. Bring the beans to a boil and then turn down to a simmer and cover. Cook until the beans are tender. Approximately 2 hours.
• When the beans are tender, add the remaining ingredients, and simmer until desired consistency. You may need to add more water. If it is too thin, cook longer until some of the liquid has cooked off.
• Remove habaneros from soup when they become soft, or leave them in if you like your soup spicy.
• Garnish with fresh cilantro, sour cream, sliced green onions, and grated cheese, if desired.

AJEEN BECKFORD LAHMA BI AJEEN

Steps:

• Mix all dough ingredients well. Knead for a few moments. Set aside to rest while preparing filling. Mix all the filling ingredients. Preheat the oven to 400°F
• Since you will be preparing a large number of these, it makes sense to work on a large, clean surface. The kitchen table is perfect. Roll half the dough to 1/8 inch thickness on a clean table. Use a glass, 2-2.5 inches in diameter to cut circles of dough. Place these circles on a well oiled baking sheet. Work the remaining dough into a ball, and roll it out to cut more circles. Keep combining the circle cutouts until you have used all the dough. Place 1.5 teaspoons filling on each circle. With a fork, carefully smooth filling to the edge of the circle. It's fine for the lahma bi ajeen to touch each other in the pan, but they cannot overlap.
• Bake for about 20 minutes, or until dough is just firm but not crisp.
• Serve with tehina and soup or salad for a first course.

JAMAICAN CHEF AJEEN BECKFORD CRAB CAKES

Steps:

• Keep the crab meat lumps as large as possible.
• Place the cram in a pot and reduce by ½. Chill well.
• Sauté the peppers in a little clarified butte. Add the scallion and sweat briefly.
• Combine all of the above with the balance of the ingredients. NOTE: only about 3oz of the breadcrumbs will be used at this stage.
• Using a mold form the cakes.
• Place the cakes in the rest of the breadcrumbs. Press lightly. Reshape if necessary.
• Fry the cakes in clarified butter until golden brown. Turn only once. Drain on paper towel.

AJEEN BECKFORD PORK KEBABS WITH CHIMICHURRI SAUCE

Steps:

• 1. Place the ingredients in a food processor and pulse until blended but still with some texture (not pureed).
• 2. Cut the pork into ¾" cubes and coat with 1/2 of the sauce. Place in refrigerator and marinate for 4 to 6 hours. Reserve remaining sauce for service.
• 3. Skewer pork and grill. Serve with reserved sauce.

JAMAICAN HAM AND BEAN SOUP

Steps:

• In a Dutch oven, saute onion in oil until tender, 3-4 minutes. Stir in the ham, refried beans, broth, corn, chiles, salsa and jerk seasoning; bring to a boil. Reduce heat; simmer, uncovered, for 5 minutes, stirring occasionally., Stir in the olives and lime juice; heat through. Garnish servings with sour cream and lime slices.