West African Red-Red Beans with Coconut Rice, Avocado, & Sweet Plantain

Red red is a traditional Ghanaian dish made with black eyed peas, red palm oil, and tomatoes. The name comes from the red coloring it develops from the palm oil, keeping with the tradition of serving red colored foods in celebration of Juneteenth. Serve with fried sweet plantains!

Ingredients

• 1 pound dried beans

½ to ¾ cup palm oil and canola oil

• 1 medium onion
• 1 tablespoon ginger

½ tablespoon garlic

• 2 tomatoes, diced
• 2 tablespoons tomato paste
• 1 tablespoon paprika
• 2 cups to 3 cups reserved liquid from cooking the beans
• 1 tablespoon bouillon powder/cube vegetarian
• 2-3 green onions chopped

salt and pepper as needed

• 1 habanero pepper or sub with hot pepper

Directions

1. Rinse dry black-eyed pea beans, discarding any foreign objects (if you use packaged beans,
2. 25
3. you can skip this step). Add beans to a large pot and cover with 3-4 inches of cold water.

Cover and let sit overnight or for 6-8 hours.

1. Drain the soaked beans, rinse, and place in a Dutch oven. Cook the beans for about 50-60

minutes or until tender.

1. Drain the cooked beans and set aside, reserving some of the 2-3 cups of liquid for later.
2. Heat oil (palm and canola) in a large saucepan over medium heat until hot. Sauté the onions
3. in the oil for 3-4 minutes, stirring often and scraping any browned bits off the bottom of the

pot.

1. Add tomatoes, tomato paste, ginger, garlic, paprika and bouillon powder or cubes. Cook

while stirring for about 1 minute.

1. Add 2 cups of bean cooking liquid and bring to a simmer, continuing to cook the sauce and

stir occasionally.

1. Finally, add the beans, green onions, and remaining reserved bean cooking liquid. Bring to a

boil and simmer for another 10-15 minutes.

1. Adjust consistency with bean cooking liquid and season to taste. Serve with fried sweet
2. plantains.

Notes

From the Lodge Cast Iron cookbook I picked up during my visit to the Lodge Museum of Cast Iron in South Pittsburg, Tennessee (June 2026). Contributed by Kenyatta Ashford. Recommended cookware: Cast Iron Dutch Oven.