A long time ago in a place far, far away I used to make something called Cuban Beef & Beans.
I think it came from one of those recipe card subscriptions that were popular. There were subscriptions for everything…. books, music, decorative items (ahem…) Getting the mail used to be exciting…. packages, magazines, catalogs.
I digress…..
The memory of that hearty, spicy dish came wafting back as I was staring at my pantry the other day…. Trying to come up with yet another creative meal.
I’m sure I used black beans and canned green chilies – none of which were in my pantry (or even available to buy here). I’m pretty sure I used chunks of beef – which I also didn’t have.
But I had enough to make a dish we were both happy with. What more can one ask for from Lock-Down Cooking?
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PrintSpicy Beans and Sausage
Make this as hot as you like, using green chilies, jalapeños, or hotter peppers, and finish with hot sauce.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 25 minutes
- Total Time: 35 minutes
- Yield: 2 servings 1x
- Category: Skillet Dinner
Ingredients
- 1 onion, chopped
- 3 cloves garlic, minced
- 1/2 green pepper, chopped
- 1/2 red pepper, chopped
- 12oz (360gr) sausages, any flavor, cut into bite-size pieces
- 1 tbs olive oil
- 15oz (450gr) whole tomatoes, chopped, juices reserved
- 15oz (450gr) white beans, rinsed, drained
- 1 tbs chili powder
- 1 tsp paprika
- 1 tsp cumin
- 1 tbs Worcestershire sauce
- 1 tbs Balsamic vinegar
- 1 bay leaf (laurel)
- Brown Rice:
- 1/2 cup (3.3oz, 95gr) brown rice, quick-cooking
- 1 cup (8oz, 240ml) beef stock
Instructions
- Heat oil in large, nonstick skillet over medium heat. Add chili powder, cumin, paprika, and sauté 1 minute.
- Add onions, peppers, garlic and sauté 5 minutes.
- Add sausage chunks and sauté another 5 minutes.
- Add tomatoes, juices, beans, Worcestershire, vinegar, and bay leaf.
- Cover and simmer 10 minutes.
- Uncover and simmer 5 minutes longer, until sauce starts to thicken.
- Remove bay leaf and serve over rice.
- Brown Rice:
- Cook rice according to package instructions.
Notes
The brown rice I use cooks in 15 minutes.
Substitute black beans or red kidney beans for the white beans for a more authentic dish.
Keywords: sausage, beans, rice
I went to the supermarket today.
It’s the first time in over 2 months.
I decided to go to one that is a bit further away but usually very quiet if I go during the French lunch hour. Plus they usually have sales on pork and chicken and I could stock up again. (They did.)
It was busy.
There were arrows on the floor of the mall (almost all of our supermarkets have a small mall attached) but not in the store.
Most of the people wore masks – except for the guy that was coughing and sneezing. About half were also wearing gloves.
All of the employees wore masks.
The only unusual concession they made was that one couldn’t push the trolley past the cashier. The items were unloaded on to the conveyor belt at the beginning of the check-out area. Then one pushed the trolley through another lane and circled back to the opposite end to pack the food. We pack our own bags here – and we bring the bags.
All in all it was not a bad experience.
Then I got home and had to deal with it all…. I washed my hands at least a dozen times.
I don’t wipe down the food packaging – it sits in the pantry or the pantry fridge, untouched for 3 days before coming into the kitchen.
Foods that need freezing or dividing are handled separately – thus the frantic hand-washing.
But – it’s only for another year or two…..
Hah! Another year or two. Feels like it, doesn’t it?
Hubs would love this dish with all those peppers in it.
I’ve been in my tiny, local meat store, but not in a regular grocery store in two months now and the meat store, maybe three times. We’re mandated to wear masks in stores and such but of course, there are those who won’t. I’m trying not to go in anywhere not only because of my lung issues, but my allergies are terrible and I’m still afraid of that flogging should I cough or sneeze in the store. So I’m still picking up my order and except for the Spam which the store hasn’t gotten a delivery of in about a month and a half, this last two pickups had everything else I needed so there’s that.
I expect it will be that long before there’s a vaccine. And, as they say, opening up doesn’t mean it’s gone – just that there’s more room at the hospital for you. We’ll be careful until we’re vaccinated. I’m thinking that I’ll alternate an in-store visit with pick-up. There are some things that just never seem available on pick-up which I can either find or find a substitute in the store.
We will have washed our skin off by the time a vaccine emerges !! Were they disinfecting the trolleys ?
They said they were but I didn’t see it. There was disinfectant at the door but by then I’d pushed the trolley from the parking lot so why bother. I wore disposable gloves