Colombian Culture Posts: Food #4

FRIJOLES 1 lb. Large Red Roundish Beans -- I purchase my beans in the Colombian section at Liborio Market. They have stores in CA, NV and CO. You can try to find a Latino market in your area and see if they have the beans. If you can't find these in your area, try a different kind of red bean. Wash them and soak them over night. Change the water and add salt and one clove of garlic. Cook them in a pressure cooker if you have one, if not I use a crockpot, but it takes many hours. In a sauce pan prepare the following HOGAO (it is like a sauce and is pretty standard in many different Colombian recipes). 1 small can tomato sauce1 small onion chopped very very finebutter or oil1 teaspoon powdered chicken broth or 1 cube boullion (I prefer Herb Ox, my MIL uses Knorr)4 green onions chopped super finecumin (optional and to taste) Cook the onions in the oil until soft and they start to turn brown. Once brown add the tomato sauce and chicken broth and cumin. Bring to a boil and cook for a few minutes stirring constantly. Once the Hogao is ready put the cooked beans in the pan with the Hogao (you decide how much bean juice to put in -- if you like more soupy beans put in more of the bean juice, if you like drier beans put in less). Let the beans cook for 10-15 minutes. Check that the beans are salty enough and then serve.