Long before marrying Andrea, Steven dated a Cuban girl from Miami. It was a typical college relationship. They were madly in love within days and broken up less than six months later. The relationship had all the hallmarks of an old-fashioned melodrama. Every emotion was amplified by the inexperience and hormones of youth. After the breakup, the girl sacrificed a live chicken in order to curse Steven in a Santeria ritual. Steven probably deserved the curse; he had a tendency to crack inappropriate jokes at times when no words should be spoken. The chicken, however, was completely innocent.
It turns out that, for Steven, a cursed life is largely indistinguishable from a lucky one. Even that crazy relationship turned out to be a lucky break. Out of the wreckage, Steven managed to salvage the girl’s family recipe for traditional Cuban black beans. Over the past 20 years, Andrea has taken that recipe, and, as she’s prone to do, both simplified and perfected it.
It turns out that, for Steven, a cursed life is largely indistinguishable from a lucky one. Even that crazy relationship turned out to be a lucky break. Out of the wreckage, Steven managed to salvage the girl’s family recipe for traditional Cuban black beans. Over the past 20 years, Andrea has taken that recipe, and, as she’s prone to do, both simplified and perfected it.
The Easy Black Beans recipe violates nearly every rule we have for cooking. We believe that almost everything is better made from scratch. Stock, salad dressing, guacamole, even salsas are all superior if assembled, not bought. Our black beans, however, are decidedly not from scratch. Yet, they work brilliantly. They’re as easy as microwaving popcorn. They’re by far the simplest recipe we make. The results are always incredible. We think they’re superior to the original recipe from which they evolved.
Recipe For Easy Black Beans
(Serves Two. Scale as needed.)
Ingredients:
Method:
Ingredients:
- 1 can (14.5 oz.) unsalted black beans. (Read labels and try to find a brand containing only beans and water. Choose unsalted beans because the salt in canned beans varies from 100mg-700mg making the salt profile unpredictable. As a general rule, it’s always best to be in charge of your own salt.)
- ½ can Salsa Casera (Salsa Casera is available in most grocery stores in small, 7 oz. cans) You only need half a can for the recipe. Use the rest in guacamole or throw it on eggs in the morning. Other salsas will work, but Salsa Casera is simple, contains no junk, and the results are predictably good.)
- ½ cup beer or chicken stock
- ½ cup chicken stock or water
- Salt to taste (about 1 tsp.)
Method:
- Combine one can of black beans (including liquid), ½ can of Salsa Casera, and ½ cup beer or chicken stock in a saucepan. Bring to a low boil, then reduce the heat and simmer.
- Stir frequently, until almost all the liquid is gone. Then add ½ cup chicken stock or an equivalent amount of water. Add the salt at this time as well.
- Simmer again until the liquid is nearly gone. Taste once more for salt, and add more if needed. Turn off the heat and let the beans set up a bit. Serve.
It has been pointed out that these beans are no longer Cuban. Fair enough. The flavor profile in this version is far more Mexican. It is also worth mentioning that the double boil can take a while. Start the beans before you start anything else.
Steven cooking black beans for Andrea, 1990
