Black Beans and Ham

Serves 6

For the bean part of the dish:

Ingredients

• 400 g black beans
• 3 tablespoons olive oil
• 5 garlic cloves
• 2 onions
• 2 green peppers, finely chopped
• 1 can of chopped tomato
• Salt
• Pepper
• 1 teaspoon of sugar
• 4 tablespoons of coriander, chopped
  

Method

1. Place beans in a large saucepan with enough water to cover, and soak overnight
2. Heat oil in a medium saucepan and sauté the onions, garlic then add peppers, coriander and tomato.
3. Season with salt, sugar and pepper.
4. Bring to the boil, cover, reduce heat and simmer for 1 ½ hours stirring occasionally, until beans are tender.

For the bread (a special Christmas dish in Venezuela):

Serves 10

Ingredients

for the yeast

• 1 1/2 cups water
• 5 teaspoons granulated yeast
• 1 teaspoon sugar
• for the dough
• 250 g butter
• 1 litter warm milk
• 2 kg flour
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 1 teaspoon sugar

for the filling

• 1 1/2 kg sliced ham
• 1/2 kg smoked bacon
• 250 g butter
• 1/2 kg olive
• 1/2 kg raisins
• 1 egg (to "varnish")

Directions

1. In a bowl, mix the water and the sugar; add the yeast and let stand for 15 minutes until it has a "head".
2. Add the butter to the warm milk, the sugar and the salt.
3. Pour the milk onto the flour, mix and add the yeast.
4. Make a dough and knead for 15 minutes.
5. Beat down on a table and put in an oiled bowl and cover with a damp cloth.
6. Set aside for an hour.
7. Roll out the dough with a rolling pin.
8. Coat with butter.
9. Arrange the ham, bacon, olives and the raisins (except for a small part at the end, so you can seal the bread up).
10. Roll it up like a swiss roll and brush the "tongue" with some egg to seal it.
11. Bake at 350° F for 3/4 of an hour.
12. Serve cool.

Link to SOS Children's Villages

http://www.soschildrensvillages.org.uk/sponsor-a-child/americas-child-sponsorship/venezuela.htm