In medium saucepan, add 1 tsp olive oil, onions, and garlic, and cook for 2 to 3 minutes on medium heat, until just slightly softened but not browned. Remove stem from pasilla pepper, split it in half with a knife, and remove seeds. Most will fall off easily, but you can use a knife to gently scrape the ones that stick to the flesh of the pepper. Cut or tear pepper into 3 to 5 pieces. To pan, add pepper, tomatoes, water, cumin, and maple syrup; cook, covered, for 10 minutes, then simmer, uncovered, for 50 minutes.