Black Bean Muneta With Fried Plantain Chips Recipes

Steps:

• To make the beans, place them in a large saucepan with 2 cups of water and the bay leaf. Bring to a boil, reduce heat and simmer until tender, about 1 1/2 hours. Add only a little water, if needed, to keep the beans barely covered while they cook. Meanwhile, heat the olive oil in a medium-size nonstick skillet over medium heat. Add the onion and cook for 5 minutes. Add the garlic and cook for 1 minute. Stir in the cumin and oregano and cook a few minutes longer.
• When the beans are cooked, stir in the onion mixture, 1 teaspoon of salt and the pepper and cook for 5 minutes more. Let cool. Place the beans in a food processor and pulse until pureed. Taste and adjust seasoning if needed. Scrape into a serving bowl and garnish with cilantro.
• To make the chips, heat enough oil in a large skillet to make a depth of 1/8 inch. Working in batches, add the plantain slices to the skillet and cook until browned and crisp, about 2 minutes per side. Drain on paper towels and sprinkle with salt. Serve immediately with the bean dip.

Steps:

• For the beans: Place the beans in a bowl or pot, cover with cold water and allow to soak overnight. Drain and rinse before proceeding. (Alternatively, add the beans to a medium pot and cover with hot water. Bring to a boil, and then boil for 2 minutes. Turn off the heat, cover the pot and allow the beans to sit for 1 hour. Drain the beans and rinse them with cold water before proceeding.)
• In a medium pot, add the soaked beans, chicken broth, 2 cups water, the garlic, onions and green, red and yellow bell peppers. Bring to a boil, reduce the heat to low, cover and simmer for 1 1/2 hours. Then add the chile powder, cumin and salt and stir. Cover and continue simmering until the liquid level is to your liking, about another hour. Taste for seasoning and add more of what it needs.
• For the fixins: Serve in a bowl with sour cream, cilantro, lime wedges and diced bell peppers on the side.