Jolof Rice

Ingredients

1 c black-eyed peas
2 eggplants
1 ts salt
1 1/2 tb canola oil
2 onions
3 ts ginger
2 jalapeno peppers
1 garlic clove
2 garlic
1 green bell pepper
4 tomatoes
1 1/2 tb tomato paste
2 ts cayenne
1 lb carrots
1 1/2 c long brown rice
1/2 lb green beans

Instructions

Soak peas overnight (Mark's note, soaking black-eyed peas before cooking is unnecessary). Simmer in fresh water for 15 minutes. Drain & reserve cooking water. Slice eggplant into rounds 1/2" thick & place in a colander. Sprinkle with salt & let stand 5 minutes. Heat oil in casserole. Brown eggplant with 1 tb chopped onions, 1 tb chopped ginger, 1 jalapeno, whole garlic & bell pepper for 5 minutes. Remove eggplant & set aside. Add remaining onion, ginger, garlic, jalapeno, bean liquid, tomatoes, tomato paste, cayenne, curry powder & pepper sauce. Simmer for 10 minutes. Add peas, carrots & rice. Simmer 5 minutes more. Add green beans, eggplant & simmer another 15 minutes. (Mark's note: 15 minutes for brown rice is far too short a time, allow a good 20 minutes before adding the green beans & eggplant).