Sofrito and Red Kidney Beans

Sofrito is a blend of peppers, onions, garlic, spices and herbs used to flavor the food from Puerto Rico and many other Latin American countries. I always keep some in my freezer. When I make up a batch I freeze it in small pre-measured containers so it is ready to go when I am making rice and beans. I also use it to marinate meat.

This is the basic recipe I use to make my sofrito.

• 2 large green peppers (coarsely diced)
• 2 medium onions (coarsely diced)
• 6 cloves garlic
• 1 jalapeno pepper
• 1 tsp. black pepper
• 2 tsp. salt
• 3 tsp. ground cumin
• 1/2 tsp. dried oregano
• 1 tsp. dried cilantro
• 1/2 cup vegetable oil or light olive oil

Place all ingredients in a food processor and puree for 10 seconds. Spoon 4 tablespoons  of mixture into small plastic cups or into hole of ice cube tray and freeze. After freezing I place the cups or cubes into a large freezer bag until ready to use.

To make Red Kidney Beans I use :

• 1 plastic cup of sofrito or 1 cube from ice cube tray
• 3 tbsp. vegetable oil
• 2 – 15 oz. cans Red Kidney beans (do not drain liquid)
• 1 – 8 oz. can tomato sauce

Place sofrito and oil into medium sized sauce pan over low heat until thawed. Then raise the heat to medium low and continue to cook for 3 minutes. Add beans and sauce to pan and simmer for 20 minutes. Serve over white rice.

Espero que disfrute de esta receta.

(Translation: I hope you enjoy this recipe.)