Red Red — Ghanaian Bean Stew

About This Recipe

Red red is one of Ghana's most beloved everyday dishes and perhaps the country's most famous export dish: black-eyed peas are cooked in a richly spiced tomato sauce with red palm oil (which gives the dish its name — the red beans in the red oil), onion, dried smoked fish and scotch bonnet. It is always served with fried ripe plantain (kelewele-style or plain fried), and the combination of the earthy, slightly smoky bean stew with the sweet, caramelised plantain is one of the great flavour pairings in West African cooking. Red red is naturally vegan (if made without the dried fish) and profoundly satisfying — a dish that makes pulses feel like a celebration.

Ingredients

Serves 4

• 2 tinsblack-eyed peas(drained)
• 4 tablespoonsred palm oil
• 3 mediumtomatoes(blended or finely chopped)
• 1 largeonion(diced)
• 2 tablespoonstomato paste
• 1scotch bonnet pepper(pierced or chopped)
• 50 gsmoked dried fish(optional)
• 1 teaspoonsalt
• 2stock cubes
• 2 largeripe plantains(sliced, for frying)
• 4 tablespoonsvegetable oil(for frying plantain)

Instructions

1. 1

   Build the sauce

   Heat palm oil in a pot. Fry onion for 5 minutes. Add tomato paste, cook 2 minutes. Add blended tomatoes and scotch bonnet. Simmer for 15 minutes until reduced and oil surfaces.

2. 2

   Add beans

   Add drained black-eyed peas, smoked fish, stock cubes and salt. Add a splash of water if too thick. Simmer for 20–25 minutes until the beans are very tender and have absorbed the sauce.

3. 3

   Fry the plantain

   Slice ripe plantain at an angle. Fry in vegetable oil over medium heat for 2–3 minutes per side until golden and caramelised.

4. 4

   Serve

   Serve the bean stew alongside fried plantain. The stew should be deep red from the palm oil and tomato.

Variations

• •

  Kidney beans or brown beans can substitute for black-eyed peas.

• •

  Some versions add a small piece of salted dried fish (herrings) instead of smoked fish.

Storage

Bean stew keeps refrigerated for 4 days. Fry plantain fresh.

Frequently Asked Questions