Black Beans
This is my basic black beans recipe. I make a big pot of these bad boys and I can build a variety of meals from here. (Stay tuned for some meal prep ideas!)
I will not bore you with a bunch of blogger details on this one...this is a pretty straightforward recipe. But, I will share just a couple of details just in case you are an absolute beginner.
First, it does not matter if you use a pressure cooker (my fave method because it is fast--no soaking or waiting for hours) or a slow cooker. But there are some things to know if you are using a slow cooker. 1) It will obviously take more time. 2) Do not add acids like tomatoes until the beans are soft. If you add tomatoes too soon your beans will take forever to get soft! 3) You will need to soak your beans overnight, and drain and rinse them before cooking. These type of instructions are on the back of the package usually.
Second, I obviously like my beans to have a little Hispanic flare. I have been told that they rival a Cuban mama's beans (massive compliment in my book)! But I do keep my recipe a little easy on the spiciness so feel free to ramp it up if you like.
Finally, a few short-cut tips:
Fresh bell peppers and onions are great, but I also like to keep diced frozen veggies on hand. It cuts prep time down to almost nothing! I get mine for a buck at Kroger.
Keep a tub of minced garlic on hand in your fridge so all you have to do is spoon what you need into the pot. (For someone with some knife skills I hate cutting!) I buy mine at Costco.
Make a big container of chili seasoning and keep it on hand. This stuff is good for more than just beans. Use it to make tacos, fajitas, etc. without having to measure all the powders individually every time. Recipe below.
Chili Seasoning Mix:
Chili Powder 2 Parts
Onion Powder 2 Parts
Cumin 1 Part
Garlic Powder 1 Part
Black Beans
PREP TIME 10 | COOK TIME 30 | TOTAL TIME 40
Servings: 12-18
Category: Beans
Cuisine: Hispanic
Ingredients
Black Beans - dry 6 cups
Water 12 cups
Garlic - minced 1 Tbsp
Salt 1 tsp
Nutritional Yeast Flakes 1/2 cup
Green Bell pepper - diced 1 cup
Onion - diced 1 cup
Tomatoes - diced 2 15 oz cans
Chili Season Mix 2/3 cup
Braggs Liquid Aminos* 1/4 cup
Oregano (optional) 1/2 Tbsp
Instructions
Slow Cooker Method:
Soak beans according to package directions, either overnight or "quick soak" method.
Drain and rinse beans, then add fresh water.
Add all ingredients to the pot EXCEPT tomatoes.
Cook on HIGH for about 6 hours or until beans are tender.
Add tomatoes and season to taste.
Pressure Cooker Method:
Place all ingredients except for tomatoes into the pot.
Set on 30 minute bean setting. Allow about 10 minutes to naturally release.
Once done, add tomatoes and season to taste.
Notes
*You can sub soy sauce if you don't have Bragg's on hand. Soy sauce is a stronger flavor so start with a couple of tablespoons and add more if needed.
