Diri ak Pwa, also known as Rice and Beans, is a popular Haitian dish. It’s a delicious and hearty meal that combines rice and beans with a flavorful sauce. Here’s a basic recipe for Diri ak Pwa:
Ingredients:
For the Rice and Beans:
- 2 cups of white rice
- 2 cups of red kidney beans (dried or canned)
- 1 onion, chopped
- 3 cloves of garlic, minced
- 1 bell pepper, chopped
- 2 sprigs of thyme
- 2-3 whole cloves
- 1 scotch bonnet pepper (optional, for heat)
- Salt and pepper to taste
- 4 cups of water (if using dried beans)
For the Sauce:
- 2 tablespoons of vegetable oil
- 1 onion, chopped
- 1 bell pepper, chopped
- 3 cloves of garlic, minced
- 1 scotch bonnet pepper (optional, for heat)
- 1 can of tomato paste (6 oz)
- 1 teaspoon of paprika
- 1 teaspoon of thyme
- Salt and pepper to taste
- 2 cups of water
Instructions:
1. Preparing the Beans (if using dried beans):
- If using dried beans, rinse and soak them overnight or for at least 6 hours.
- Drain and rinse the soaked beans.
- In a large pot, combine the beans, 4 cups of water, onion, garlic, thyme, cloves, and scotch bonnet pepper (if using).
- Bring to a boil, then reduce heat to low and simmer for 1 to 1.5 hours, or until the beans are tender. You may need to add more water during cooking to keep the beans covered.
2. Cooking the Rice:
- Rinse the rice thoroughly under cold water until the water runs clear.
- In a separate pot, heat some oil over medium heat and sauté the chopped onion, garlic, and bell pepper until they are softened.
- Add the rinsed rice to the pot and stir to coat the rice with the oil and vegetables.
- Pour in 4 cups of water, season with salt and pepper, and bring it to a boil.
- Once it’s boiling, reduce the heat to low, cover the pot, and simmer for about 20 minutes or until the rice is cooked and the water is absorbed.
3. Preparing the Sauce:
- In a separate saucepan, heat the vegetable oil over medium heat.
- Add the chopped onion, garlic, and bell pepper and sauté until they become soft and translucent.
- Stir in the tomato paste, paprika, thyme, salt, and pepper. Cook for a few minutes until the tomato paste starts to darken and the flavors meld.
- Gradually add 2 cups of water, stirring to create a smooth sauce. Simmer for about 10-15 minutes until the sauce thickens.
4. Serving:
- To serve, scoop some rice onto a plate, ladle the sauce over the rice, and top it with the cooked beans.
- If you like it spicy, you can garnish with additional scotch bonnet pepper slices.
Enjoy your homemade Diri ak Pwa!
