Beans and Rice with Fried Plantains

Beans and Rice:

• 1 cup beans
• rice (Any rice recipe; we prefer brown rice)
• olive oil
• 1/2 cup onion, chopped
• 2 garlic cloves, minced
• 3 medium tomatoes, chopped
• Spices to taste (chili powder, cumin, paprika, and pepper)

Fried Plantains:

• 3-4 ripe plantains (brown to black, the riper the better)
• olive oil

Beans and Rice

1. Heat oil in heavy skillet (medium-high heat)
2. Add onion and garlic, sauté until beginning to brown
3. Add spices to taste and tomatoes, stir to heat through
4. Add beans, and heat through (about 5 minutes)
5. Mash beans with potato masher until about half of them are mashed

Fried Plantains

1. Cut plantains diagonally into 1/2 inch slices
2. Heat 1/3 cup or so of oil in a heavy skillet over medium-high heat until hot (but not yet smoking)
3. Sauté plantain slices in batches until golden brown, 2+ minutes per side
4. Drain on paper towels and try not to eat them all before the beans and rice are ready

To Serve

1. Put the beans over the rice and season with your favorite hot sauce. Add plantains on the side. It’s a simple recipe that celebrates Donna’s Carribean heritage.- DG

Recipe by David Gates, Vice President of Vineyard Operations for Ridge Vineyards. David’s duties include managing the historic Monte Bello vineyard in the Santa Cruz Mountains, the Whitton Ranch at Geyserville, and the Lytton Estate vineyards at Healdsburg, as well as monitoring and helping all Ridge growers in Sonoma, Napa, Santa Clara, and San Luis Obispo Counties. He and his wife, Donna, live at Monte Bello.