Madesu. Congolese style Stewed Beans

Madesu is what beans are called in lingala, it is also called maharagi in swahili ( lingala and swahili are one of the most spoken languages in the Democratic republic of Congo).

The recipe I am sharing with you is stewed beans which is a congolese dish made with beans and a tasteful spicy tomato sauce. I am sharing a quick method using can beans which is a pantry essential in our household. ( see recipe note at the end if cooking beans from scratch)

Although I am using Borlotti beans in this recipe, you can use any canned beans of your liking as long as it is simply cooked beans in water.

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Ingredients:

👩🏾‍🍳 4 cans Borlotti beans in water (400g can each).

👩🏾‍🍳 125 ml oil (cup).

👩🏾‍🍳 1 large onion.

👩🏾‍🍳 4 garlic cloves.

👩🏾‍🍳 2 bay leaves.

👩🏾‍🍳 1 can tomatoes (400g can).

For Seasoning I Used:

👩🏾‍🍳 1 teaspoon salt.

👩🏾‍🍳 1 teaspoon dried oregano.

👩🏾‍🍳 1 teaspoon chilli flakes ( or what you can handle).

👩🏾‍🍳 1 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper.

👩🏾‍🍳 1 teaspoon freshly ground nutmeg.

👩🏾‍🍳 1 cube vegetable stock

Methods:

👩🏾‍🍳 Drain the canned beans and run the beans under cold water than set aside. Peel and chop the onion and minced the garlic.

👩🏾‍🍳 Heat the oil in a saucepan over a medium heat. Add in the chopped onions and bay leaves and fry, stirring occasionally for about 2 to 3 minutes or until the onions have softened. Now add in the minced garlic and fry for further 15 seconds.

👩🏾‍🍳 Pour in the canned tomatoes, reduce heat to medium low and cook/fry, stirring occasionally, for 15 to 20 minutes or until the tomato liquid has evaporated and the oil has separated. This is a crucial stage and it will determine how your stew will taste. The tomatoes need to fry properly to remove all the acidity and bring out its natural sweetness. ( do not rush this stage). Now add in the seasoning and fry for further 30 sec to 1 minute.

👩🏾‍🍳 Add the drained beans and stir in 250 ml ( 1 cup) of hot water, bring it to boil, cover and reduce the heat to low and allow to simmer for 20 minutes checking on it and stirring occasionally so that it doesn't burn. The water you add in depends on you, if you like your stewed beans soupy add in more water, if not add in less.

👩🏾‍🍳 Serve and enjoy. Madesu/Stewed beans goes well with rice, potatoes, plantains, yam. matoke, crusty bread...

Note: If cooking beans from dried beans

Rinse and soak beans in cold water overnight.

Next day, discard the soaking water, put beans in a big enough pot, cover with water, bring to boil and boil for 10 minutes then cover, reduce heat and simmer for up to 60 minutes or until your beans are cooked.

🧡 Happy cooking. Please share and invite other foodies to come join us. 🧡

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