Date: Wed, 25 Jan 95 15:31:15 PST
From: Michelle Dick (artemis)
From _Please to the Table_
The official title to this recipe is "Red Beans with Tamarind and
Balsamic Vinegar", but I call it "You've Got To Be Kidding Beans".
Here 'tis. I give pressure cooker instructions (what I did, although
given it's meant as a cold salad, overnight soaking + slow simmering
would help preserve the skins and make it more presentable) as well as
the original directions.
YOU'VE GOT TO BE KIDDING BEANS
1 1/3 cups small red beans (I'm sure red kidney beans would be fine)
1 onion, peeled
1 carrot, peeled and coarsely chopped
1 celery stalk and coarsely chopped
5 pitted dried prunes
1/4 cup balsamic vinegar
2 t tamarind concentrate
1 t Chinese chili and garlic paste
3/4 t coriander seeds
1/4 t fenugreek
1/4 cup chopped fresh cilantro
Red onion rings for garnish
If not using a pressure cooker, soak beans overnight and drain.
Combine onion, celery, carrots, and beans in a soup pot.
Add enough water to cover beans by 3 inches. Bring to a boil, reduce
heat, and simmer till beans are tender but not mushy, approximately 55
minutes.
If using a pressure cooker and non-soaked beans, bring beans and 4
cups of water to high pressure for 1 minutes, remove from heat and let
sit for 10 minutes. Open, drain beans. Return beans to pressure
cooker, add onions, celery, carrot, and 4 cups fressh water. Bring to
high pressure for 15 minutes. Turn off heat, bring pot to sink and
run under cold water to reduce pressure. Open and check beans to see
if they are fully cooked. If not, simmer uncovered until done.
Drain beans and remove onion, celery, and carrot.
Meanwhile, combine prunes and balsamic vinegar in nonreactive pan and
simmer for 15 minutes (don't boil hard). Remove prunes and chop
finely. Add prunes back to vinegar. Add tamarind concentrate and
chili-garlic paste to prune-vinegar mixture.
If working from whole fenugreek, grind in coffee grinder to powder.
Lightly grind coriander seeds. Add both to vinegar mixture. Mix
well.
Combine beans and vinegar mixture. Chill for 2 hours. When ready to
serve, mix in 1/4 cup cilantro and top with sliced red onion.
kwvegan vegan