Loubia

Ingredients

• 2 large onions
• ½ kg white beans, soaked overnight or for half a day
• 3 large tomatoes
• 1 tbsp tomato paste
• ½ tsp salt
• ½ tsp ginger
• ½ tsp cumin
• ½ tsp turmeric
• ½ tsp chilli powder
• ½ tsp sweet cayenne pepper
• ½ tsp black pepper
• ½ cup olive oil
• Water

Method

1. Ideally soak the beans overnight; good beans that soften within a few hours do not need it.
2. Peel the onions and dice them small, purée the tomatoes in a blender and put both into a pressure cooker.
3. Add half of the olive oil, all the spices and the beans and stir over low heat with a wooden spoon for 5 minutes.
4. Pour in two to three cups of water until the beans are completely covered, stir in the tomato paste and close the pot tightly.
5. With good beans about 40 minutes is enough; shake the pot carefully now and then so that nothing burns, take it off the heat after 45 minutes and let it rest before opening.
6. Check that the beans crush easily; if the sauce is thick, stir in the rest of the olive oil, if it is too thin, keep cooking uncovered until it thickens.
7. Serve with bread.