Spiced Dominican-Style Sweet Plantain and Black Bean Stew
A hearty Dominican-inspired stew combining sweet plantains and black beans simmered with aromatic spices for a comforting dish. This latin american-inspired soups (vegetarian) ready in about 50 minutes pairs large ripe plantains, peeled and diced, black beans, cooked and drained, medium onion, diced for a weeknight-friendly dinner that comes together with one pan and minimal cleanup. Each serving lands at about 310 calories and feeds 4, so it slots cleanly into a weekly meal plan and pairs well with a quick salad or grain on the side. Tap "Plan a meal with the AI" below to drop this recipe into your week and send the ingredients straight to Instacart. Nutrition values are approximate, calculated from USDA FoodData Central (fdc.nal.usda.gov) — verify against ingredient labels for any health-driven dietary plan.
Ingredients
- 2 large ripe plantains, peeled and diced
- 2 cups black beans, cooked and drained
- 1 medium onion, diced
- 1/2 cup green bell pepper, diced
- 1 cup tomato sauce
- 3 cloves garlic cloves, minced
- 2 tbsp olive oil
- 1 tsp ground cumin
- 1 tsp dried oregano
- 1 bay leaf
- 2 cups vegetable broth
- 1 tsp salt
- 1/2 tsp black pepper
- 2 tbsp fresh cilantro, chopped
Equipment for this recipe
Top-rated tools to make this recipe successfully.
Instructions
- Step 1: Heat 2 tablespoons olive oil in a large pot over medium heat. Add 1 diced medium onion, 1/2 cup diced green bell pepper, and 3 minced garlic cloves. Sauté for 5 minutes until vegetables are softened and fragrant.
- Step 2: Stir in 2 teaspoons ground cumin, 1 teaspoon dried oregano, and 1 bay leaf, cooking for 1 minute until aromatic.
- Step 3: Add 2 diced ripe plantains, 2 cups cooked and drained black beans, 1 cup tomato sauce, and 2 cups vegetable broth. Season with 1 teaspoon salt and 1/2 teaspoon black pepper. Bring to a boil, then reduce heat to low and simmer uncovered for 25 minutes until plantains are tender and stew thickens.
- Step 4: Remove bay leaf and stir in 2 tablespoons chopped fresh cilantro. Serve hot as a filling vegetarian stew.
Frequently asked questions
How long does Spiced Dominican-Style Sweet Plantain and Black Bean Stew take to make?
Total time is about 50 minutes (15 min prep + 35 min cook). Most home cooks find this fits comfortably into a weeknight; double the batch on Sunday for two dinners.
How do I store leftover Spiced Dominican-Style Sweet Plantain and Black Bean Stew?
Cool to room temperature within 2 hours, then store in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 4 days. Reheat covered in a 350°F oven for 10-12 minutes, or microwave at 70% power in 60-second bursts to keep medium onion, diced from drying out.
Can I substitute ingredients in Spiced Dominican-Style Sweet Plantain and Black Bean Stew?
Yes — most ingredients in this recipe have flexible swaps. For oil, use any neutral high-smoke-point oil (avocado, grapeseed, refined coconut). For aromatics, dried herbs at ⅓ the volume of fresh work in a pinch. The full ingredient list is shoppable on Instacart so you can see substitutes in real time.
How do I scale Spiced Dominican-Style Sweet Plantain and Black Bean Stew for a different number of people?
The recipe is written for 4 servings. Multiply each ingredient by (your serving target / 4). Cook time stays roughly the same up to 2x; for 3-4x batches, switch from a skillet to a sheet pan or stockpot so the food isn't crowded — overcrowding steams instead of browns.
Is Spiced Dominican-Style Sweet Plantain and Black Bean Stew vegetarian?
Yes — this recipe is tagged vegetarian based on its ingredient list. Always cross-check labels for packaged ingredients (sauces, broths, condiments) since formulations vary by brand.
