• 1/2 cup dried red beans

• 2 teaspoons salt

• 1/8 ground black pepper (optional)

• 1 thyme sprig

• 1 tablespoon fresh parsley

• 2 tablespoons chopped onions

• 2 tablespoons chopped bell peppers

• 6 cloves

• 1½ tspn garlic powder or 3 garlic cloves

• 1 Scotch bonnet pepper

• 7 cups water

• 3 tablespoons vegetable oil

• 2 cups long-grain parboiled rice (basmati)

• 1 teaspoon tomato paste

1. Wash beans and bring to a boil in medium pot with 7 cups water on medium-low heat.

    Add 1 teaspoon salt and 6 cloves. When beans are fork tender (1hr 10mins), turn off

heat, strain into bowl and set aside liquid as it's needed to cook rice. Add water to beans' liquid to make 3½ cups total.

2. In cast-iron pot, stir-fry chopped onions, bell pepper, chopped scallion in 3 tablespoons

cooking oil for 1 minute on medium heat, add 1 teaspoon tomato paste, cooked beans and continue to stir-fry for 3 minutes.

3. Pour in the 3½ cups of bean liquid, 2 teaspoon salt, black pepper (optional), fresh parsley, thyme sprig, and bring to a hard boil. Wash rice, add to boiling water and

make sure the latter is at rice level. Include whole hot pepper and let simmer. As soon

as water has evaporated (about 15-20 minutes), lower heat, cover tightly, and let cook for 20 minutes.

4. Fluff rice and beans with large spoon, leave hot pepper on top, and cover for 10

minutes. Ready, serve hot with either chicken, turkey, meatballs or fish.