Habichuelas Guisadas (Domincan Republic) – Seema Pankhania

Ingredients

• 2 cups dry pinto beans, (or cranberry, or red kidney)
• 1 tablespoon olive oil
• ½ teaspoon oregano (dry, ground)
• 1 bell pepper, chopped
• 1 small red onion, cut into four quarters
• 2 cloves garlic, crushed
• 1 cup diced auyama (kabocha squash)
• 1 cup tomato sauce
• leaves from a celery stalk, chopped (optional)
• 4 sprigs fresh thyme, or 1 teaspoon of dry thyme (optional)
• ½ teaspoon chopped fresh cilantro, or cilantro and parsley
• 1½ teaspoon salt, (or more, to taste)
• 2 lbs chicken, [0.9 kg], cut into small pieces
• Juice of 1 lime
• 1 small red onion, stalks cut into slices
• ½ cup chopped celery, (optional)
• 1 teaspoon salt, (more may be necessary)
• 1 tablespoon mashed garlic, (about 4 cloves garlic)
• 2 tablespoons vegetable oil
• 1 teaspoon sugar (white, granulated)
• 2 cups water
• 2 green bell, or cubanela (cubanelle) peppers
• 4 plum tomato, cut into quarters
• ¼ cup pitted green olives, (optional)
• 1 bunch cilantro, or parsley, or both
• ¼ teaspoon pepper (freshly cracked, or ground)