Recipe: Red Beans and Brown Rice with Salsa (Rosie Daley)

RED BEANS AND BROWN RICE WITH SALSA

1/2 cup dried red beans
1/2 cup dried kidney beans
3 cups water (plus water for soaking)
1 1/2 cups chopped onion (1 to 2 onions)
3 garlic cloves, sliced lengthwise
1 teaspoon dried oregano
1 bay leaf
2 tablespoons chili powder
1 teaspoon ground cumin
1 teaspoon dried coriander
1 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes
1 cup tomato juice
1 cup uncooked brown rice
2 cups chicken stock, fat skimmed
FOR THE SALSA:
1 1/2 cups cubed tomato (1 large)
1/4 cup chopped fresh cilantro
1/4 cup sliced scallion, white part (2 large scallions)
1/4 cup fresh squeezed lime juice
2 tablespoons minced jalapeno pepper, (1 large pepper)

Pick over and rinse the beans. Put them into a large bowl and cover completely with cold water. Let the beans soak overnight (or for at least 8 hours).

WHEN READY TO COOK:
Drain the beans and transfer them to a large pot. Add the 3 cups water. Bring to a boil over medium heat and cook for 5 minutes.

Stir in the onion, garlic, oregano, and bay leaf. Reduce the heat to low and simmer, uncovered, for about 1 hour, until the beans are tender.

Add the chili powder, cumin, coriander, red pepper flakes, and tomato juice, stirring to mix. Continue to cook while preparing the rice.

Put the rice and chicken stock in a medium saucepan. Bring to a boil over medium-high heat. Cover, reduce the heat to low, and simmer for 45 minutes, or until tender.

In the meantime, combine all the salsa ingredients in a small serving bowl and set it aside for the flavors to meld.

When the rice is done, stir it into the bean mixture. Ladle into bowls and serve with the salsa on the side.

Makes 6 servings
Source: In The Kitchen With Rosie by Rosie Daley