Frijoles Negros (Black Beans)

Frijoles Negros (Black Beans) are a staple of Mexican cuisine. This vegetarian and vegan black beans recipe is flavorful, simple to prepare and makes a great side dish or a filling for black bean burritos. If you've never had black beans cooked from scratch, you're missing out. Fresh frijoles negroes are so much better than anything that comes from a can.


Ingredients:

•1 pound dried black beans

•2 green bell peppers, halved and seeded

•8 cups water

•1 medium onion, quartered

•2 cloves garlic

•1 tsp dried oregano

•1 tsp ground cumin

•1 bay leaf

•salt to taste

•1/4 cup dry white wine

•1 tbsp red wine vinegar

•1 tbsp sugar

•1/4 cup olive oil

Preparation:

Soak the beans with one of the green peppers in the water for 8 hours or overnight.

After soaking, bring the beans, pepper and water to a boil, then immediately turn the heat to a simmer and cook, covered for 1 1/2 hours, or until the beans are almost tender.



Prepare a sauce, called sofrito, by combining the other green bell pepper, the onion, garlic, oregano, cumin, bay leaf and a little of the cooking water in a blender. Blend on low until the mixture is smooth.



Add the sofrito to the beans. Bring to a boil again, then immediately reduce the heat to a simmer.



Add salt and the wine, vinegar, and sugar. Continue to simmer, uncovered, until the bean mixture becomes thick, about 2 more hours.



Add olive oil immediately before serving. Serve over steamed rice.