*  Exported from  MasterCook  *

                         CUBAN BLACK BEAN STEW

Recipe By     :
Serving Size  : 4    Preparation Time :0:00
Categories    : Soups                            Low-cal
               Beans

 Amount  Measure       Ingredient -- Preparation Method
--------  ------------  --------------------------------
  1       lb           Black Beans, Uncooked
  1       c            Onion, Chopped
  1       tb           Butter
  4       c            Water
                       Bouillon Cube, Beef
 12       oz           Cooked Lean Ham
  2                    Bay Leaves
    1/2   ts           Thyme
    1/2   ts           Oregano
    1/2   ts           Salt
  1                    Whole Dried Red Pepper
  1       c            Chopped Bell Pepper
    1/3   c            Dark Rum (Optional)
  1       c            Sour Cream (Optional)

 Sort and soak beans overnight; drain and discard soak
 water. In a 4-quart pot, saute onion in butter until
 tender but not browned. Add soaked beans, 4 cups
 water, bouillon cube, ham (cut into chunks), bay
 leaves, thyme, oregano, salt and pepper.  Bring to a
 boil, reduce heat. Cover and simmer until beans are
 tender, 1 to 1-1/2 hours. Remove 1 cup of beans from
 pot and mash with a potato masher or fork.  Add mashed
 beans back into pot and stir to thicken.  Remove ham
 chunks and dice. Remove bay leaves and red pepper, if
 used and discard. Add diced ham, green pepper and rum
 to beans. Cover and simmer for 15 minutes.  Serve
 beans over rice and top with sour cream if desired.



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