Coconut Bean Soup Recipe

This is a traditional Nigerian recipe for a vegetarian one-pot dish of rice and beans in a coconut milk curry sauce.


Ingredients:

• 1 large onion, finely chopped
• 1 medium bell pepper, chopped
• 1 teaspoon curry powder
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 1 teaspoon cayenne pepper
• 3 tablespoon olive oil
• 6 plum tomatoes, chopped
• 2 scotch bonnet chillies, pounded to paste
• 500g kidney beans
• 1 1/2 cup coconut milk
• 2 1/2 cup water
• 200g cooked white rice

Procedure:

• If using kidney beans, pour into a large bowl and generously cover with water. Allow to soak over night, then the next day, discard the soaking water and add the beans to fresh boiling water. Boil for 30 minutes then discard the water
• Bring a fresh pan of water to boil and cook the beans for a further 40 minutes. Again, discard the water and retain the beans. At this point the beans should be soft
• fry the onions, bell pepper, curry powder, salt and chillies in oil for 5 minutes.
• Add the tomatoes and simmer for a further 10 minutes
• Add the beans, coconut milk and water. Simmer for 5 minutes then add the rice, stir well and serve