Cuban Black Beans

Cuban Black Beans

Serve them whole....

CUBAN BLACK BEANS

• 2 lbs. dry black beans
• 1 lg. yellow onion, diced
• 2 garlic cloves, minced
• 1 bunch of cilantro
• 2+ t. salt

The night before you want to eat your beans, pick through beans and be sure you have no rocks and rinse....key to good dental health.  Place beans in large pot/Dutch oven and cover with water, about 1 inch past the beans.  Let soak overnight.  The next day, depending on when you want to eat your beans (you will need 2 hours to cook the beans), drain and rinse the beans.  Rinse the pot you soaked them in.  Spray pot with nonstick spray or drizzle a little olive oil in and heat to medium heat.  Saute the onions until they soften, about 5 minutes.  Throw in garlic and saute another  minute, until things start smelling like garlic.  Add beans and enough water to cover beans.  Bring to a boil and then reduce to a simmer.  Cover pot and let them simmer for an hour and a half, checking them every 20 minutes or so to be sure they have enough water.  Wash the cilantro.  Chop off the stems and the base of the bunch and rough chop it.  After the beans have been cooking for an hour and a half add 2 teaspoons of salt and 1/2 the cilantro. Stir to combine well. Continue to simmer.  After thirty minutes more, check for saltiness and add more salt if needed.  I usually end up using 3 teaspoons. Toss in the remaining cilantro and stir.  Serve with cornbread or if desired scoop into a cast iron skillet, draining off some of the liquid and mash the beans for burritos, toastadas, nachos.....yum.