Red Red (Pepper Stewed Beans)
A common dish served at homes in Ghana, by roadside vendors and in chop chop bars (cafes or canteens), this popular stew is enjoyed all year round. Different versions of stewed beans often pop up across the continent and its diaspora. They all begin with soaking and slowly cooking the beans until tender, allowing the legumes to release starch that adds sustenance to the dish as they swell. Here, canned beans are crushed, thickening the broth without quite collapsing, delicately held together in their thin, speckled or colorful coats. The floral and aromatic stew base is simmered and reduced into a robust and spice-forward piquant sauce. This is a high effort, high impact recipe for prosperity in the new year. Take your time here, commit to this meal. It is joy in a bowl.
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