Jamaican Black Bean Stew

Jamaican Black Bean Stew

One of my new favorites! This unusual (unless you eat a lot of Jamaican food) dish has some interesting foods paired together. It is fresh, light, delicious, healthy and easy! What more could you want. I was going to wait to post until I made another batch and could post a picture, but I can't withhold such a fabulous recipe until them.

2 C. uncooked brown rice
2 lbs. sweet potatoes
3 pounds butternut squash
1 can vegetable broth (14 ounces)
1 large onion, coarsely chopped
2 garlic cloves, minced
1 Tbsp. curry powder
1 1/2 tsp ground allspice
1/2 tsp ground red pepper (I used black)
1/4 tsp salt
2 cans (15 ounce) black beans, rinsed and drained
1/2 cup raisins (I used more!)
3 Tbsp fresh lime juice
1 cup diced tomato
1 cup diced peeled cucumber

1. Prepare rice according to package directions. Meanwhile, peel sweet potatoes; cut into 3/4 inch chunks to measure 4 cups. Peel squash; remove seeds. Cut into 3/4 inch cubes to measure 5 cups.
2. Combine sweet potatoes, squash, broth, onion, garlic, curry powder, allspice, red pepper and salt in Dutch oven (or stock pot). Bring to a boil; reduce heat to low. Cover and simmer 15 minutes or until sweet potatoes and squash are tender. Add beans and raisins; simmer 5 minutes or until heated through. Stir in lime juice.
3. Serve stew over brown rice; top with tomato and cucumber.

Spaghetti sauce served over spaghetti squash

We have recently started Southbeach Diet and I wanted to share some of the fabulous yummy, healthy recipes we've had.

Spaghetti Sauce served over spaghetti squash

1 Tbs. Olive oil
1 medium onion, finely chopped
3 cloves garlic, chopped
4 c. canned, diced with juice (6 ripe med tomatoes chopped)
1 medium red bell pepper, chopped
4 zucchini, chopped
¼ c. fresh basil leaves or 2 tsp. dry basil
2 T. fresh oregano or 2 tsp. dry oregano
¼-1 tsp. crushed red pepper flakes
salt and pepper
Heat oil in pan. Add onion and cook until softened (5 minutes). Add the garlic and cook (2 minutes). Add the rest of the ingredients and simmer for 15 minutes. Can be frozen up to 2 months.
Serve on noodles or spaghetti squash.