Best Black Bean Recipes
This collection is filled with some of the tastiest black bean recipes around. They can truly be the star of a dish, like Smoky Black Bean Bisque and Black Bean Burgers. The Black Beans and Rice or Crock Pot Cuban Black Beans would make a great side dish for taco night. My Mexican Black Bean Lasagna is a tasty alternative for meat-free Monday. With soup season up on us, you will want to warm up with the Creamy Taco Soup, Slow Cooker Black Bean Chili and Black Bean Tortilla Soup. Black Beans add flavor and protein to salads as well! Doritos Taco Salad is a retro favorite perfect year-round. Black Bean and Corn Salad will add some freshness to your weekly menu. I love a good chopped salad and I can’t wait to try the Mexican version in the gallery! Black beans are completely versatile in the way they can be cooked to (read below for more). I’ve included recipes for multiple ways, including the slow cooker and Instant Pot too. Oh, and black beans for dessert? Don’t shake your head no quite yet. I found a Black Bean Brownie recipe that will have you reaching for a tall glass of milk.
How to Cook Black Beans
Black beans are not only versatile in what they can be added to, but also on their own. There are both the canned and dry variety, and each comes with it’s own cooking method. For the canned ones, you can simply heat them up in the microwave or on the stove top for a quick side dish. The dried ones can be prepared in the slow cooker, Instant Pot, on the stove or even in the oven! Some say they need to be pre-soaked while others say it’s not necessary. I think soaking any dried bean first helps to give them a creamier texture and more flavor in the end, so I always soak them first.
How to Season and Cook Canned Black Beans
As mentioned above, canned black beans can simply be heated and eaten, but if you have a few extra ingredients and basic seasonings, you can take them to the next level. By adding some onions, garlic and tomatoes, the flavor of canned beans is enhanced and they taste like they are homemade. Cumin, oregano, paprika and dried oregano are all things you probably have in your pantry right now, and they can turn boring canned black beans into something special. Sauté the onions, garlic and tomato in a little olive oil until soft, add the canned beans and bring to a simmer. Allow them to cook for about 15 minutes, add your favorite seasonings and maybe a squeeze of fresh lime juice and you have a restaurant-quality side dish.
How Much Protein Is In Black Beans?
Black beans are a great source of nutrients—even in the canned variety. One cup of canned black beans contain 16 grams of protein plus iron, magnesium and potassium. Indeed, they are in fact an exceptional source of protein, and fiber too, which is known to lower bad cholesterol. The U.S. Dietary Guidelines for Americans counts black beans both as a vegetable and protein, making them a double duty food. Eating black beans as part of a balanced diet can decrease your chances of diabetes, heart disease and some cancers. When you launch the gallery, you might be surprised at just how much you can do with black beans. I am sure there is at least one or two recipes you’ve never even thought of. Be sure to grab an extra can, or two, or even a bag of the dried ones the next time you do a grocery run so you are ready the next time a black bean craving hits!
