Recipe - Anasazi Beans With Ginger And Cauliflower

1 One fourth cup Dry anasazi beans
Vegetable cooking spray
1 Bay leaf
1 2inch piece kombu; rinsed,
(optional)
6 One half cup Water
1 cup Diced onion
1 tablespoon Minced garlic
1 One half teaspoon Minced gingerroot
1 Dried red pepper; (optional)
2 teaspoon Ground cumin
1 teaspoon Salt; (optional)
1 teaspoon Blackstrap molasses
Three fourths pound Butternut squash
1 small Head cauliflower
One half cup Fresh or frozen peas
2 teaspoon Cumin seeds; toasted, (I
can't find these so I
omitted them)

Adapted from: "New Vegetarian Classics: Entrees" by Mary F. Taylor

1. Pick over the beans . Rinse well. In a 2quart saucepan, combine
the beans, bay leaf, kombu, and 5 cups water. Bring to a boil,
stirring occasionally. Skim off foam. Reduce heat and simmer covered,
stirring occasionally, until beans are tender, about 2 One half hours.
remove from heat and set aside. The beans can be prepared up to 5
days in advance if refrigerated in an airtight container. They can be
frozen for up to 2 months.

2. Transfer the beans to a 4quart saucepan. Add the remaining 1 1/2
cups water, onion, garlic, ginger, dried red pepper, cumin, salt, and
molasses. Stir to combine, then cook at a simmer, stirring
occasionally as you prepare the vegetables, about 15 minutes.

3. Peel and seed the squash, then cut it into small, 1/2inch dice.
Add the squash to the beans and cook until it is very tender, about
20 minutes. Meanwhile, trim the cauliflower into small florets and
place it in a steamer rack, set in a 2quart saucepan over rapidly
boiling water. Cover and cook until tender, about 10 minutes. Drain
immediately.

4. When the squash is tender, stir in the peas and continue to cook
for 5 minutes. Remove the beans from the heat, then stir in the
toasted cumin seeds. Taste and adjust the seasoning. Serve the beans
surrounded with the steamed cauliflower, or mix the cauliflower into
the beans if they are to be used as a filling. The dish can be
prepared up to 3 days in advance if refrigerated in an airtight
contained. Warm before serving.

Cook's Note: by using cooked or canned anasazi, kidney or pinto
beans, you can reduce cooking time to 30 minutes.

Excellent served over Braised Greens, garnished with croutons or used
as a filling for tortillas or crepes. Anasazi beans need no
presoaking, but if you use a different type of bean, allow
appropriate soaking time.

Posted to fatfree digest by "Richard M. Swanson" sharpy@sedona.net
on Apr 1, 1999, converted by MM_Buster v2.0l.