Havana Beans Recipes

QUICK CUBAN BLACK BEANS

Steps:

• Heat oil in a large heavy saucepan over medium-high heat. Add bacon and sauté, stirring often, until it starts to brown, about 3 minutes. Add bell pepper and onion. Cook, stirring, for one minute. Add garlic and cook, stirring occasionally, for 3-4 minutes longer to soften the vegetables. Add cumin and cook, stirring, for 30 seconds to toast the cumin.
• Add 1 can of beans with their liquid to the pot. Use a potato masher or the back of a fork to gently mash the beans. Add the other two cans of beans with their liquid, vinegar, bay leaves, 1½ teaspoons salt and ¼ teaspoon pepper.
• Simmer uncovered, stirring occasionally, for 15 minutes. Adjust taste and texture to your liking by adding additional water or broth and salt and pepper.
• Serve as a side dish with lime wedges and chopped cilantro or as a main dish scooped over steaming brown or white rice and topped with garnishes of chopped cilantro, lime wedges, grated cheese and/or sour cream.

INSTANT POT CUBAN BLACK BEANS

Steps:

• Combine the bell pepper, yellow onion and garlic in a food processor or mini food processor and pulse until finely chopped, working in batches if necessary (see Cook's Note).
• Set a 6- to 8-quart Instant Pot® to saute and add the olive oil (see Cook's Note).
• Transfer the green pepper mixture to the pot. Add the oregano, 1 tablespoon salt and season with black pepper. Cook, stirring occasionally, until the peppers are soft and the onions are translucent, about 5 minutes.
• Add the beans, vinegar, vino seco, bay leaves, sugar and 5 cups water to the pot. Follow the manufacturer's guide for locking the lid and preparing to cook. Set to pressure cook on high for 30 minutes. (It will take about 10 minutes to come up to pressure.)
• After the pressure-cook cycle is complete, follow the manufacturer's guide for natural release. After 20 minutes, being careful to release any remaining steam, unlock and remove the lid. Remove and discard the bay leaves. Scoop out 1 cup of the black beans into the food processor and pulse until almost smooth (see Cook's Note). If using a mini processor, be careful of any steam.
• Return the beans to the pot and stir. Set the pot to saute and continue to simmer until thickened, about 10 minutes. Serve over white rice.

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.

HAVANA BEANS

Steps:

• Spray a heavy pan with cooking spray.
• Cook the onion, garlic, and pepper for about 3 minutes or until starting to get soft.
• Add the tomatoes and pepper.
• Cook and stir for 5 minutes.
• Add the beans, cover, and simmer for 20 minutes.
• Serve with rice.

CUBAN BEANS

Steps:

• In a large pot add water, beans and ham hocks. Boil for 45 minutes until tender.
• In a medium saucepan add oil, onions, garlic, peppers, cumin, paprika, oregano, pepper and saute until translucent, do not brown.
• When bean mixture has reduced by 1/2, add the onion saute mixture and the salt. Continue to reduce until water is level with bean mixture. Hold warm for service.

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.