Recipe: Spicy Black Bean Spread

SPICY BLACK BEAN SPREAD

1 cup dried black beans
Water
1 bay leaf
1 small red bell pepper
1 jalapeno pepper
3 cloves garlic
1 teaspoon ground cumin
1/4 cup finely chopped fresh cilantro
1/4 to 1/2 cup vegetable stock
Salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste.

Rinse and pick over beans. Soak overnight.

Discard soaking water. Place beans in a kettle with water to cover and the bay leaf. Simmer until very tender, 1 to 1 1/2 hours.

While beans are cooking, roast the bell pepper and jalapeno under the broiler until completely charred. Place in a paper bag for 10 minutes to steam, then remove the skins and seed the peppers. For a spicier spread, include some of the seeds from the jalapeno.

Combine all ingredients except stock and salt and black pepper in a food processor and puree to a thick paste. A

Add enough stock to make it a spreadable consistency and season with salt and pepper.

From: Dawn/ny - 01-09-97