Red Red - fried plantains and beans
To prepare the delicious Red Red dish, start by selecting three perfectly ripened plantains that are extra soft for the best flavor and texture. Begin by slicing the plantains diagonally; this technique not only adds visual appeal but also ensures even cooking. Next, deep fry the sliced plantains in hot oil until they achieve a beautiful golden brown color, which indicates they are perfectly cooked and ready to enjoy.
As a helpful tip, consider slicing one onion into rings to fry alongside the plantains. The aromatic sweetness of the onion complements the rich flavors of the plantain beautifully. You’ll know the plantains are ready when the onion rings turn a lovely shade of brown, signaling that both ingredients are perfectly cooked together.
Now, let’s move on to preparing the beans sauce (or stew), which will serve as the perfect accompaniment to this delightful dish.
Red Red, Plantain and Beans (c) Strictly by Remo Kurka
Red Red - (fried plantains and beans)
Use black eyed beans. You may use the canned variety, easier to cook with, if you are new to this dish.
Palm oil - half a cup (Or vegetable oil, if nothing else to hand)
1 can crushed tomatoes. But you may use fresh tomato's as well.
1 scotch bonnet pepper (a habanero does the same job too).. careful though, those peppers are very HOT. Don`t get them into your eyes! (they are pictured on our website - just the 3 small red peppers.
1 Maggi cube. Might be vegetable or chicken. Best are the fish cubes.
(African shops sell them)
1 pink or white onion (chopped)
Garlic and Ginger (For an even better taste)
Method:
Pour the Palm oil in to a pan, stir in the chopped onion and garlic, till onion turns translucent). Make sure, that the Palm Oil is not burning!
Add the cut tomatoes and scotch-bonnet pepper. (Cut the pepper in halves, it releases the flavour better, but be careful not to eat the pepper, if you are not used to that kind of HOT).
Let all simmer, till the oil rises to the top.
This sauce is the basic tomato sauce that can be used for different recipes, going with rice and chicken etc.
Add beans to sauce and let simmer for 10 minutes, stirring to prevent burning.
Add the crumbled spices to taste and there we are, just 1 min after...!
Serve with fried Plantains! Then - your Red Red is ready!