Congri (rice with beans) recipe

Ingredients to make Congri (rice with beans):

• 180g dried black beans
• 2 liters of water
• 21/4 teaspoon salt
• 1 sprig of finely chopped fresh thyme
• 1/2 green bell pepper finely chopped
• 3 tablespoon vegetable oil
• a piece of lean salt pork cut into small cubes
• 2 finely chopped garlic cloves
• 1/4 red chilli seeded and finely chopped
• 2 chopped onions
• 750g of rice
• 1/2 teaspoon black pepper

How to make Congri (rice with beans):

1. Wash the beans in a colander under running water until the water runs clear.
2. Place them in a large pot with 4 cups of water, 1 teaspoon of salt, the thyme and half of the green pepper.
3. Bring to a boil over high heat, reduce heat, and simmer 3 hours or until beans are tender.
4. Add more water if it evaporates too much. Drain the cooked beans and reserve the water to boil the rice.
5. Remove 1 tablespoon of beans and pound them in a mortar until you get a fine paste.
6. In a large skillet with hot oil, fry the pork until it is crisp and all the fat has been released.
7. Remove the meat from the heat and let it drain on kitchen paper.
8. Reserve it, sauté the garlic, the rest of the green pepper, the chilli and the onion in the pan for 5 minutes, stirring constantly
9. Add the bean purée, the remaining beans, and the pork.
10. Lower the heat and let it all boil uncovered for about 10 minutes
11. Transfer all these ingredients to the pot with the bean water and add the rice, 1 1/4 teaspoons of salt and black pepper.
12. Bring everything to a boil, stirring constantly to mix all the ingredients, let it boil for 20 minutes or until the rice is cooked and the liquid has evaporated.
13. Taste it, rectify salt.
14. It is served immediately.