Plantains and Beans – A lightened version of  plantains and beans quick and easy, with kale  – no frying required , yet still quite tasty!
Happy Monday Everyone!!!
How was your weekend? Did you watch the super bowl? Sad to say I don’t follow football, my favorite part of watching the Super Bowl is generally the commercials and after the halftime show, I am done. Head over to the table and fill up, until I am stuffed. This year was quite different I watched the last 45 minutes and got so caught up in the game that I almost lost it. I was rooting for hobby’s team and got my heart broken. Now am going to have a sleepless night. Somebody needs to remind me of this next time.
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Anyways have I told you how much I heart beans? My favorite is fried plantains and beans but can’t have it all the time. Here is an alternative to fried plantains and beans, a one-pot meal that is less fattening.
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To obtain the reddish color here, I used paprika-It adds tons of flavor with barely any calories. You would swear I put a ton of red oil in this dish right? But I DIDN’T. Don’t be put off by the looks, it only has 1/3 cup of oil.
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This is a hearty, protein filled one-pot dish – an easy meal you can throw together anytime of the week.
Here are a couple of guidelines for this recipe, you can use any protein (chicken, beef, pork, smoked turkey,) or make it a vegetarian meal, you’ll certainly have enough protein from the beans anyways.
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Ok, I dread boiling beans so while am at it – I cook more than enough beans needed and save the rest.
We all have hectic schedules, especially during the weekdays or even weekends. Save time when you can.
For those that the taught of boiling beans seems really foreign then just use canned beans. Be sure to rinse them thoroughly before adding them to the pot. You may throw in some greens and scotch bonnet pepper for flavor, color and vitamins.
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Enjoy!!
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Plantains and Beans
Ingredients
- 1-2 pounds meat chunks beef, chicken, pork
- 1 medium onion chopped
- 4-5 pounds slightly riper-unripe plantains
- 1/2 cup Crayfish optional
- 1/3 cup of Palm Oil Canola Oil
- 4 cups boiled beans
- 1 Chicken Bouillon cube
- 2 teaspoons smoked paprika
- 1 scotch bonnet pepper habanero
- 1 bunch of fresh kale chopped
- ½ -1 Cayenne Pepper optional
- Salt and pepper to taste
Instructions
- In Large –sized saucepan boil meat seasoned with salt, cayenne pepper, onions until tender depending on the meat. Make sure you about 3-4 cups or more of chicken broth to use.
- Using a sharp knife cut both ends off the plantain. This will make it easy to grab the skin of the plantains. Slit a shallow line down the long seam of the plantain, peel only as deep as the peel. Remove plantain peel by pulling it back.
- Cut the plantains into thick round shape.
- Place the plantains into the pot of boiled meat, add the bouillon cubes, crayfish red oil and remaining onions. Add about a cup or more of water to cover the ingredients
- Bring to a boil and low the cooker to medium and let it cook slowly for about 20
- Finally add the cooked beans, kale and cook for an additional 10 minutes or more until tender. Adjust seasonings and thickness of soup with water, salt and pepper .
- Remove fro m heat and serve warm.
Tips & Notes:
1. Rinse beans and pick through and discard any foreign object.( I did not have to do this because I used the package beans,). Add beans to a large pot covering with 3-4 inches of cold water.
2. Cover and let sit overnight or 6 to 8 hours.
3. Drain the soaked beans, rinse, and place the beans in a Dutch oven or pressure cooker. Follow instructions for cooking beans in your pressure cooker. It takes roughly between 8 to 12 minutes to cook. If not using a pressure cook, cook the beans for about 30 minutes or more until tender – black beans take longer to cook.
4. Drain the cooked beans and set aside
Nutrition Information:
Olive says
Wow! This actually reminds me of my childhood. My Mom used to make this when we were still kids but mostly with black beans and very green plantains but with dried smoked fish and it tastes very well. Unfortunately, I have not tried it ever since I got married. Will give it a try with the red beans. Hope my kids will love it as I did when I was young. Thanks very much for the recipe.
ImmaculateBites says
Hello! So happy to hear this recipe brings back childhood memories. Thanks for taking time out to share your thoughts with us .
Yinka says
This looks so beautiful and mouth watery. I am going to try it. Weldone sis
Kiki says
Used to eat this at home as a child but wasn’t very fond of it but as a wife in my own home I get tired of cooking the same stuff over and over. This is a delicious change I’ll be enjoying for a while. I can here the pot “bubbling” as we say back home. I give it two thumps up. Thank you very much.
Blanche says
LOOks lovely and I like red oil but love the fact that it is palm oil free making it a healthier option
Janice says
Girl you are amazing. You don’t even try, you just do it and it all seems effortless. I check out your blog almost every time I park at the grocery store and need inspiration for what to cook (I’m doing it right now..lol) Thank you, thank you, thank you for sharing your gift with others.
ImmaculateBites says
You are TOO MUCH girl! Am pleased that it’s working out for you. Aww…Thank you so much !!!! Now I want to head on over to the kitchen to cooking some more .
God Bless!