[recipe] Frijoles con Queso Etc. Casserole

[Guest guest]

Finally found a minute to share this great recipe

from Mollie Katzen's Enchanted Broccoli Forest

cookbook. I remember making this back in the

80s when I had very few cooking skills to speak

of and just going on a wing and prayer it would

turn out edible! *lol* We really liked this one as

it was real stick to your ribs comfort food.

I had never had anything like it before since I was

so new to cooking as a fairly new vegetarian living

on my own. Doesn't seem all that exotic to me now

though.

 

Frijoles con Queso Etc. Casserole

 

2 cans pinto beans, drained and rinsed

1/2 cup cream cheese (4 oz.)

1 cup plain yogurt

1/2 cup grated Jack cheese (or mild white cheddar)

1 Tbs. olive oil

1 1/2 cups chopped onion

3 cloves garlic, minced

Sea salt, to taste (about 1/2 tsp.)

1/2 tsp. ground cumin

1/2 tsp. dried basil

1/4 tsp. cayenne pepper, or more to taste

Black pepper, to taste

1 medium zucchini, cut in chunks

2 medium tomatoes, chopped

salt, pepper, oregano, and basil (dash or each to taste)

 

Warm the beans in a saucepan until just heated

through; remove from heat. Stir in the cream cheese

so it melts, then stir in the yogurt and cheese.

Saute the onions, garlic, salt, pepper, cumin, basil

and cayenne in the oil until onions are soft. Add this

to the bean mixture, stirring to combine.

Pour this mixture into a buttered 2 quart casserole dish.

In the same skillet, saute the zucchini with the seasonings.

You shouldn't need more oil, but add some water if it gets

too dry. Cook about 3 minutes and then add the tomatoes.

Cook for another 5 minutes. Spread this mixture on top of

the bean layer.

 

Corn bread Topping:

1 cup yellow corn meal

1/2 cup unbleached white flour

1/2 tsp. salt

1 tsp. baking powder

1/2 cup yogurt

1 large egg

 

Combine the dry ingredients. Preheat oven to 375?.

Beat the yogurt and egg together, then stir into the dry

ingredients until just combined. Spread this mixture on

top of the veggie layer of the casserole. Bake 40 minutes

uncovered. Serve right away, nice and hot.

 

Source: Mollie Katzen's Enchanted Broccoli Forest

 

~ PT ~

 

Without darkness there are no dreams.

~ Karla Kuban, novelist