Cooking Beans

We have been thinking a lot about all the teams and volunteers that have served at Agua Viva over the years and wanted to find a new way to pass.  Since you can’t come to us, we wanted to send a little bit of Guatemala to you.  Check out this great video of Gama and Seño Janet (our main cook) as they make delicious Guatemalan Black Beans.  Read below for the full recipe!

INGREDIENTS
1 lb. black beans
1 clove of garlic
1 medium chopped onion
5 epazote leaves (also known as skunk weed or Mexican Tea)
3 tbs oil
salt to taste

DIRECTIONS
Fill large pot 3/4 full with water. Wash black beans and add them to the pot. Bring to a boil. Add one whole garlic clove and a 1 tsp. of salt to the pot. Cook beans for about 5 hrs or until soft.  Add water as needed if the water boils off. When beans are ready, heat 3 tbs of oil in a sauté pan and add onion and epazote. Sautés for several minutes then add beans and some of the bean water to the pan. Add salt to taste. Cook for several minutes.

Best when served with fresh corn tortillas and queso blanco (a white cheese – usually found with the Mexican dairy products at the grocery store).

Let us know what you think of our little cooking video, we are in the learning process, but hope to create more in the coming year. Let us know what Guatemalan foods you would like to learn how to make! Email misi@aguavivaschool.org with your ideas.