SAVORY WAY: Anasazi Beans With Juniper

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* Exported from MasterCook *

 

Anasazi Beans With Juniper

 

Recipe By : The Savory Way by Deborah Madison, page 267

Serving Size : 4 Preparation Time :0:00

Categories : Beans And Legumes Side Dishes

Vegetables Madison: Savory Way

 

Amount Measure Ingredient -- Preparation Method

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2 cups dried Anasazi or pinto beans

10 coriander seeds

8 juniper berries

1 small onion

1 tablespoon sunflower seed or light olive oil

1 teaspoon ground red chile -- (optional)

1 teaspoon dried Mexican or Greek oregano

2 1/2 quarts water

Salt

 

Makes 4 servings.

 

Anasazi beans are pretty, mottled purple and white beans. They are an

ancient bean, grown and eaten by the Anasazi Indians in the past and now

being cultivated in Colorado. They can be found in natural foods

stores. If you can't find them, pinto beans are good cooked the same way.

 

This bean dish is truly simple and very satisfying. Often when I'm riding

on the desert, my house sidles into the shade of a juniper tree and lets me

grab a small handful of the blue berries as we pass. There are always a

few in my jacket pocket, handy when I want to cook these beans. One of my

favorite meals is this dish with Wild Green Salad (see separate recipe) and

Pinon Bread (see separate recipe). It is utterly basic and satisfying in

the way that complicated food often isn't.

 

Sort through the beans, rinse them well, cover them with cold water, and

set them aside for six hours or overnight. Bruise the seeds and berries in

a mortar, and chop the onion into small squares.

 

Warm the oil in a wide-bottomed soup pot; add the onions, coriander seeds,

juniper berries, chile and oregano. Cook together over medium heat for 3

or 4 minutes, stirring occasionally. Drain the beans and add them to the

pot along with the fresh water. Bring to a boil; then lower the heat and

simmer for 40 minutes. Add salt to taste and continue cooking until the

beans are as tender as you like them - probably another 30 minutes or

so. When done, check the seasoning. Serve the beans in a bowl with the broth.

 

Suggestion: There are lots of tasty additions you can use - cilantro, mint,

scallions, sour cream, cheese and so on. But try the beans plain first.

 

They should have a wonderful clean, uncluttered taste that can be quite

refreshing.

 

 

 

 

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