Vegan Puerto Rican Rice and Beans and Plantains

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Habichuelas Guisadas (Puerto Rican stewed beans)

1 15oz.can of pinto or pink or roman beans (habichuelas pintas,

rosadas, romanas) drained

2 tbs. Sofrito (buy frozen in the supermarket or make your own with

two onions, 1 green pepper, 1 red pepper, bunch of small sweet

peppers (fresh), 2 bunches of cilantro, 2 fistfuls of recao leaves,

1 whole head of garlic peeled, 2 or 3 tbs. Oregano washed, seeded

and pureed in the food processor into a thick green paste) It will

keep for a very long time in the fridge or freezer.

¼ cup tomato sauce

2 Tbs corn oil

2 small potatoes skinned and cubed in a 1/4 inch dice

2 cups water

5 stuffed manzanillo Spanish olives (green olives with a bit of

pepper inside soaking in brine) sliced

2 bay leaves

1 tsp. salt

 

Heat oil in a pot, saute sofrito and tomato sauce for a couple of

minutes only. Add drained beans and two cups water. Add bay leaves,

olives in slices, and potato and bring to a boil. Bring heat to low

and simmer for an hour or to desired consistency, stirring

occasionally. Add salt. You can do this recipe without the oil, by

putting everything in the pot at once and bringing to a boil and

then simmer for the same amount of time. Serve with white rice

latino-style and fried ripe plantains (platanos maduros).

 

Rice

2 cups long grain white rice

2 tbsp corn oil

2 cups water

1 tsp salt

Rinse rice in several changes of water. Heat oil in a nonstick pot,

add rice and stir to coat. Add water and salt and bring to a boil.

Lower heat to the lowest setting and cover for 20 mins. Turn heat

off and let sit for 10 minutes. Take cover off and fluff rice with a

wooden spoon.

 

Maduros

3 ripe plantains (yellow with dark splotches, soft but not mushy)

 

Cut ends off plantain and make a slit from one end to the other,

cutting the skin. Peel the plantain by unwrapping the skin

lengthwise. Slice in ½ inch slices on a diagonal. And fry slices on

each side over medium heat until browned. Drain on paper towels.