Portuguese Black Bean Chicken Stew

Total Time: 2 hrs 15 mins Preparation Time: 45 mins Cook Time: 1 hr 30 mins

Ingredients

• 4 cups dried black beans
• 1 1/4 gallons water
• 2 lbs boneless skinless chicken breasts, sliced
• 2 medium red peppers, diced
• 1 medium red onion, diced
• 2 cups cleaned okra (fresh or frozen)
• 1 head garlic, diced
• 2 medium tomatoes, diced
• 1 bunch chopped scallion
• 1/2 bunch chopped basil
• 1/2 bunch chopped cilantro
• 1 tablespoon ground cumin
• fresh cracked black pepper

Recipe

• 1 soak beans overnight in water.
• 2 the beans will double in volume.
• 3 discard water and fill with new water to same level.
• 4 add onion, garlic and cumin, simmer beans for one hour or until liquid is mostly absorbed and beans are semi soft.
• 5 if all liquid evaporates before beans are cooked add water (at least 1/2 inch above beans).
• 6 add red pepper, okra and tomatoes and continue to simmer for 15 minutes.
• 7 finally; add sliced chicken, scallions, basil and cilantro.
• 8 pull off heat and let chicken braise in the stew without any heat for approximately 10 minutes.
• 9 serve when chicken is cooked and tender.