Caraotas - Venezuelan black beans
Dish: Starter
Number: 2
Country: Venezuela
The black beans is a grain that is used for many recipes worldwide and this time we will show you how to prepare a dish with this precious grain that is very typical of Venezuelan cuisine, it is the caraotas.
Caraotas are usually eaten as a unique dish (soup style), it is also used to accompany arepas, to fill empanadas, in breakfasts and also and not less important, it is one of the components of the typical Venezuelan dish called pabellón criollo, which consists of caraotas, shredded meat, slices and white rice, a delicacy!
When preparing black beans, it is very important to soak them in water from the night before, we can also add a little baking soda, this will make them softer and therefore their cooking will be faster.
Another key point when making caraotas or black beans, is to make a good “sofrito” (slow cooked stir fry), as it will be responsible for providing that wonderful flavor to our caraotas, among the main ingredients are red bell pepper, onion, garlic, bacon and cumin.
We invite you to follow our step-by-step videos, where we will show you how to prepare caraotas or black beans, a dish of Venezuelan cuisine with which you will be able to eat rich and different.
Ingredients to prepare Caraotas - Venezuelan black beans
- 500 g. of black beans
- 1.5 liters of water
- 1 red bell pepper cut into small squares
- 1 green bell pepper cut into large chunks
- 1 small onion, diced
- 1 whole small onion
- 1 chopped garlic clove
- 125 g. of bacon
- 1 tablespoon cumin powder
- 1 bay leaf
- Salt to taste
- Olive oil
How To Make Caraotas - Venezuelan black beans
Step 1:
We begin the preparation of our caraotas, for it in an express pot add the black beans, water, whole onion, green bell pepper, bay leaf, cumin, stir and when we see that begins to boil, cover and cook for 20 minutes (we must follow the instructions of our express pot).
Step 2:
While the black beans are cooking, we will prepare the sofrito, for this, in a pan add the onion, garlic and let cook for 3 minutes, then add the red bell pepper, bacon, a little salt, stir and let cook for 7 minutes.
Step 3:
After 20 minutes, we uncover our express pot following its instructions, remove the onion, the bell pepper, the bay leaf and then add our sofrito, a little salt, cook for 10 minutes more, remove from heat and we have our delicious caraotas or black beans ready!
Tips for preparing Caraotas - Venezuelan black beans
When preparing black beans, you can prepare them in an express pot as well as in a traditional pot (would be around 60 min).
We can grind the green bell pepper, the onion and some beans and then add it to the black beans, this way we will get a thicker texture.
What can we accompany Caraotas - Venezuelan black beans?
Caraotas are ideal to accompany arepas, to fill empanadas or simply to take them as a unique dish.
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