Vegan Recipes - Side Dishes

"Dracula Beware!" Mashed Beans with Onion & Garlic Sauce

By Daniela Enyedi

A garlicy, spicy bean dish you can prepare and freeze in batches for quicky and easy lunch and dinner meals.

Ingredients:

2 cups dried beans - pinto, kidney, navy, whatever
4-5 medium onions
2 garlic heads [dracula beware]
2 red bell peppers
1 cup tomato paste
oil
seasonings: savory [this is important], salt, pepper

Directions:
Presoak beans in refrigerator overnight, in 6 cups of water + 1 teaspoon baking soda. Drain beans, wash with cold water, re-add the 6 cups of water, boil for about 45 minutes. Add 1 teaspoon savory - they'll cause no gas problems. Do not add salt—it toughens the beans. This step can be skipped if using canned beans, though the taste won't be as good. InWhere I live I can also buy powdered instant beans—just add boiling water. Again, the taste is only so-so.

While the beans cook, chop onions & garlic. let rest for 15 minutes - this activates some anti-cancer compounds. Then put them in pan with some oil, fry for 5 minutes. Add chopped bell peppers and fry 5 more minutes. Add tomato paste, some water and seasonings. Let simmer for 10 more minutes. At the end it should look thicker than a sauce.

Hopefully the beans are tender by now. Drain water leaving half a cup. Add a teaspoon of oil, salt, and pepper. Ase vertical (hand) blender to mash.

Ideally, individual portions of beans should be placed in bowls while still warm. Let cool and add sauce.

This tastes even better refrigerated, and I've frozen it with no problems.

Submit a Recipe

Sponsors: