Ripe plantains simmered gently in a sauce of red beans, tomatoes, and onions until they absorb the earthy bean flavor while maintaining their sweet, creamy texture.
Ingredients
4 ripe plantains, peeled and sliced
2 cups red beans, soaked overnight
2 onions, diced
3 tomatoes, chopped
2 tbsp vegetable oil
1 tsp salt
3 cups water
Instructions
1Drain soaked red beans, place in a pot with fresh water, and boil for forty-five minutes until tender but not mushy.
2Heat oil in a separate heavy pot, add diced onions, and cook for six minutes until golden.
3Add chopped tomatoes and cook for five minutes until they form a thick sauce base.
4Add the cooked beans with some of their cooking liquid, stir to combine with the tomato-onion base.
5Add sliced plantains on top, cover, and simmer gently for twenty minutes until plantains are soft and have absorbed the sauce flavors.
6Season with salt, gently fold plantains into the beans without mashing them, and serve hot.
Did You Know?
The sweetness of ripe plantains combined with savory beans creates what Burundians call a perfect flavor marriage.