Entree
Ingredients:
118⁄ cups dry red beans ¾ teaspoons salt ½ cup chopped onion ½ teaspoon crushed fennel seed 2 cloves garlic, minced ¼ to ½ teaspoon ground red pepper 1 bay leaf 2 cups hot cooked rice
Instructions:
Rinse beans. Combine beans and 3 cups water in a large saucepan. Bring to boiling. Reduce heat and simmer for two minutes. Turn off heat, cover, and let soak for one hour. Drain beans and rinse; return beans to saucepan. Add 3 cups of fresh water. Stir in all the other ingredients except the rice. Bring to boiling. Reduce heat, cover, and simmer for 2 ½ hours or until beans are tender. Stir occasionally add more water if necessary. Uncover and simmer, stirring occasionally, for 15 – 20 minutes or until a thick gravy forms. Remove bay leaf. Serve over rice.