Ghanaian White Beans and Vegetables with Fiery Pepper Sauce

From the Moosewood cookbook.

Ingredients

Annatto Oil

• 4½ tablespoons vegetable oil
• 1 teaspoon annatto seeds

Beans and Vegetables

• 2 cups chopped onions
• 1 cup diced celery
• 2 garlic cloves, minced or pressed
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 2 tablespoons annatto oil or vegetable oil
• 1 cup diced carrots
• 2 cups diced zucchini
• 1 to 2 cups seeded and diced red bell peppers
• one 28-ounce can diced tomatoes
• two 15-ounce cans small white beans, rinsed and drained (3 cups)
• ½ cup chopped fresh cilantro
• 1 lime or lemon

Fiery Pepper Sauce

• 2 green bell peppers, seeded and roughly chopped
• 1 large onion, roughly chopped (about 2 cups)
• 2 fresh hot peppers, chopped
• 2 tablespoons annatto oil or vegetable oil
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 2 teaspoons red pepper flakes or ½ teaspoon cayenne

Instructions

1. To make the annatto oil: In a small pan on medium heat, warm the oil and annatto seeds, swirling the oil frequently until hot. The oil will be a rich reddish color. Be careful not to scorch.
2. Strain the annatto seeds out of the oil and discard them.
3. To make the beans and vegetables, in a covered soup pot on medium heat, cook the onions, celery, garlic, and salt in the annatto oil for 5 minutes.
4. Stir in the carrots and cook for 5 minutes.
5. Add the zucchini and bell peppers and cook for 5 minutes.
6. Add the tomatoes, bring to a low boil, and simmer for 10 minutes.
7. Stir in the white beans and cilantro and return to a simmer.
8. Zest the lime or lemon and juice it. Add the zest and juice, and simmer for at least 10 minutes more.
9. To make the Fiery Pepper Sauce: In a food processor, whirl the bell peppers, onions, and hot peppers until there are no large pieces, but it is not fully puréed.
10. In a large heavy skillet, warm the oil on medium-high heat. Carefully add the processed peppers and onions including the juice; it will splatter in the hot oil.
11. Stir in the salt and red pepper flakes.
12. Cook, uncovered, stirring frequently, for about 15 minutes, or until very soft. As the sauce thickens, you may need to lower the heat to prevent scorching.
13. Serve the beans and vegetables on a bed of rice or Annatto Rice, topped with a generous dollop of Fiery Pepper Sauce.