Our Recipes: Italian Sausage, Brazilian Salad, Black Bean Soup and Saffron Rice

 

John used to eat this meal often as a child. His mom came up with it and made it at home in Arizona. We made it together as a present for my family in Poland when he first came to meet them in 2008. We enjoyed it in the garden with iced tea. We include recipes for all but the sausage. For that, find a good spicy or sweet Italian sausage, whichever you prefer and cook it how you like. We grilled it on charcoal. When all is prepared, serve all together on a plate as in the picture on the right. It tastes great to mix the salad, rice and beans all together. Bom appetite! Buon appetito! ¡Buen provecho!

Black Bean Soup

Ingredients:

16 oz dried black beans

2 tbsp olive oil

8 garlic cloves chopped

1/4 cup chopped jalapeño w/ seeds

1 tbsp cumin

2 tsp ground coriander

8 cups veggie broth

1 cup chopped fresh cilantro

1.5 cups onion

sour cream, optional when served

salt

pepper

Preparation:

Soak beans in water overnight. Rinse. Heat large pot w/ oil, onion, garlic & jalapeños. Sauté 5 minutes. Mix in beans & spices. Add 8 cups stock. Bring to boil. Reduce heat & cover. Simmer beans until tender - about 2.5 to 3 hours. Taste - adjust spices. Cool. Either mash 2-3 cups or put into blender to puree or mash. Return to pot. Heat on very low, stir often. Add salt & pepper to taste.

Makes 8 servings.

Brazilian Salad

Ingredients: 

2 large ripe tomatoes, diced

4 scallions chopped
1 large garlic clove, pressed or crushed
1 green pepper diced
1 small red or white onion, chopped fine
1/4 cup finely chopped parsley
1/4 cup salad oil (olive oil also ok)
2 tsp. vinegar (wine vinegar also an option)

Preparation:
Mix all these together. Add salt and pepper to taste. Let this sit for 30 minutes or so before serving.

Saffron Rice
For the saffron rice, buy a package of yellow rice and prepare as stated on the package.