Red Beans & Banana Plantains (Cameroon Shout out!)
Updated: Sep 4
Africa is such a rich continent!
Sometimes at this time of the year, I just want to be back home under the sun!
We have everything in Africa, from tropical fruit, to veggies, to all kind of fish/seafood, and meat.
You want to know why? Because our land is so fertile and the weather is propitious to agriculture.
Plus, our agriculture is mostly done the traditional and safe way, which means: "NO GMOs" and "NO PESTICIDES"!!!!
(Those products are so dangerous for our health and they are the reason why nowadays people have cancer at a younger age).
Let me not even mention how they mess up the endocrine system of women.
I always say that I like to eat a little bit of everything.
So, I know how to switch from meat to veggies that will have a good amount of proteins (and therefore will be a good replacement for meat).
Red beans are a good source of proteins, fiber, and slow carbs that help mantain a low level of blood sugar ( hence decrease the risk of diabetes and heart disease).
Plantains are a good source of potassium and magnesium.
For this recipe, you will need:
- 2 banana plantains (if you want them sweet, buy them yellow. I actually bought them when they were still slightly green cause I did not want them sweet)
- 1/2 onion
- 2 big tomatoes
- red beans
1) put some water in a pan and add a little bit of oil.
While it's heating up, remove the skin of the bananas, cut them in half and make sure you rince them with clear water before cooking them.
When the waters boil, add the bananas and cover the pan.
You will know they are cooked cause they will change color. Also, if you use a tooth pick or a fork, you will see they become tender.
2) chop the onion and the tomatoes into small pieces.
Add some oil in another pan (just watch out for the amount of oil you put in there).
When it heats up, put the onion.
When they turn into a brownish color add the tomatoes.
When the tomatoes taste less sour, add the red beans.
Now my secret trick is that I add a little bit of chicken broth to my dish (I like the taste and texture it gives to the sauce).
Be careful when you add salt people!!!!
I use banana plantains, but of course you can make it with rice instead. This will be a great lunch meal that you can take to work.
Bon appetit!
