Black Bean Recipes From Scratch

HOW TO COOK BLACK BEANS

Steps:

• First, pick through your black beans for debris (sometimes tiny rocks can sneak in). Place the beans in a fine mesh colander or sieve and rinse very well. Pour the beans into a large Dutch oven or saucepan (4 quarts or larger in capacity).
• Add the onion, garlic, bay leaves, olive oil, salt, cumin, orange zest and red pepper flakes (if using) to the pot. Pour in the water.
• Cover the pot and bring it to a boil over high heat. Remove the lid and reduce the heat to low to maintain a gentle simmer. Give the beans a stir to make sure none are stuck to the bottom of the pot, and set a timer for 1 hour. Leave the pot uncovered and adjust the heat as necessary to maintain a gentle simmer (you should see several small bubbles popping to the surface at any given moment).
• Once the timer goes off, test a couple of beans by using a fork to press them against the side of the pot. If they're easy to press through, taste a few (carefully! they're hot!) to see if they're sufficiently plump, tender and delicious.
• Otherwise, continue cooking, testing in 15 to 30 minute intervals as needed, until they're done. If you're running low on liquid, add water in 1-cup increments so the beans are covered at all time. (As mentioned in the post, if your beans are old, they can take several hours to cook and require a lot more water, and some very old beans may never cook through.)
• Once the beans are very tender and tasty, you can increase the heat a little to reduce the cooking liquid into a more gravy-like consistency, about 5 to 15 minutes (it will continue to thicken up as the beans cool).
• Remove the pot from the heat. Carefully remove the orange zest and both bay leaves. Use a fork to press the garlic against the side of the bowl to break it up. Add the cilantro, if using, and lime juice. Stir to combine. Season to taste with additional salt, if needed. Use as desired.
• Allow leftover beans to cool to room temperature before storing in the refrigerator, covered, for up to 4 to 5 days. You can also freeze leftover beans for several months.***

ABUELO PELáEZ'S FRIJOLES NEGROS (BLACK BEANS)

Steps:

• In a large pot, soak beans overnight in 10 cups of water.
• Add 1 tablespoon oil, the onion, bell pepper, garlic cloves and bay leaf to beans, and bring to a boil. Lower heat to medium and simmer for 1 hour, checking regularly and skimming the foam that forms on top.
• Meanwhile, make the sofrito. Warm remaining 1/4 cup oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add the half onion, 1 bell pepper and 3 garlic cloves and sauté for about 5 minutes until soft. Add 1 bay leaf, cumin, oregano, black pepper and salt, and cook for 2 minutes more.
• Add the sofrito to beans. Stir in sherry vinegar, wine and olives, and bring to a boil. Lower to a simmer and cook, covered, for about 1 to 1 1/2 hours, stirring frequently, until slightly thickened and cooked through. Remove both bay leaves, and adjust salt and pepper to taste. Remove from heat and add sugar. Serve as soup or a side dish, or over white rice.

BASIC BLACK BEANS

Steps:

• Rinse the beans under the tap. Put them into a bowl large enough to hold them and 4 cups of water. Cover with a plate or plastic wrap and leave to soak overnight. They should double in size.
• Drain the soaked beans, rinse, and put them into a heavy pot with onion and bay leaf. Add enough water just to cover the beans, and drizzle olive oil.
• Bring the beans to a boil. Remove any scum that forms. Boil for 10 minutes, cover and turn the heat down to low. Simmer until the beans are tender but not falling apart, 1 to 1.5 hours depending on the age of the beans.
• Remove the onion and bay leaf. Add the sea salt. Use the beans or store them in the fridge or freezer.

BLACK BEANS

Steps:

• In a medium stockpot, combine soaked beans (see Editor's Note), water, onion, green pepper, garlic, bay leaves, salt, cumin and oregano. Bring to a boil over medium-high heat; reduce heat to low. Simmer, covered, until beans are tender, about 1 hour. Stir occasionally and add water as necessary so that the beans don't dry out or scorch.
• When beans are tender, stir in wine, vinegar, and olive oil.

BLACK BEAN BROWNIES

Steps:

• Place the beans, 1/4 cup chocolate chips and oil in a food processor; cover and process until blended. Add eggs, brown sugar, cocoa, vanilla, baking powder and salt; cover and process until smooth., Transfer to a parchment-lined 8-in. square baking pan. Sprinkle with remaining chocolate chips. Bake at 350° for 20-25 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in center comes out clean. Cool on a wire rack. Cut into bars.

PERFECT BLACK BEANS

Steps:

• The night before, soak the black beans in a large pot of water. The next day, rinse the beans, cover with 3 cups of fresh water and bring to a boil over high heat. Reduce the heat and simmer covered for 30 minutes, skimming off any foam. Stir in the onion and simmer 30 minutes more. Add the garlic, oregano, cumin, and red pepper flakes, and simmer uncovered for 30 minutes, stirring occasionally. Stir in sugar and vinegar, and taste before seasoning with salt and pepper. Turn out into a large serving bowl and garnish with chopped scallions.

BLACK BEAN SOUP FROM SCRATCH

Steps:

• Wash beans; place into a 6-quart stockpot with water to cover and let soak for 8 hours.
• Rinse and drain beans. Bring drained beans, 3 quarts water, and chicken bouillon to a boil in the pot over high heat. Cover, reduce heat to low, and simmer for 3 hours. Do not drain.
• Blend onion and bell pepper in a food processor until smooth.
• Heat oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Saute garlic in the hot oil for 1 minute. Add onion mixture and cook, stirring constantly, for 4 minutes. Stir mixture into beans. Add sugar, oregano, cumin, salt, and pepper. Let simmer, uncovered, until beans are tender and soup is thickened, 1 1/2 to 2 hours. Garnish with minced onion.

SPICY BLACK BEAN SOUP FROM SCRATCH

Steps:

• In a large heavy pot, heat oil over medium heat. Sauté carrots, onions and garlic, stirring occasionally, for 10-12 minutes, until soft and fairly dry. Don't brown. Add sherry and cook until it is fully absorbed, a minute or two. Add jalapeños, chipotle chilies, adobo sauce and cumin. Cook, stirring, for a minute or so.
• Add beans, stock, oregano and bay leaves. Bring to a boil. Lower to a simmer and cook uncovered for 1 ½ - 2 hours, until the beans are tender. If the broth gets too thick, add a little water from time to time. After one hour of cooking, add 1 teaspoon of salt.
• Finish the soup: Depending on how thin the broth is, you may choose to purée or mash some of the soup to create a thicker, creamier broth. I like to purée about 1/3 of the soup, right in the pot, using an immersion blender. A potato masher also works well.
• Taste and correct seasoning with salt and pepper. Add a teaspoon or two of red wine vinegar to brighten the flavors. For more heat, stir in more adobo sauce.
• Serve soup hot in deep bowls garnished with your favorite toppings.

THE BEST BLACK BEAN BURGER

Steps:

• Mash black beans: Place rinsed and drained black beans in a bowl. If needed, blot them with a paper towel to remove extra moisture. Place in a large bowl and mash well with a fork.
• Puree Veggies: Place bell pepper, onion and garlic in a food processor and process until finely minced.
• Strain: Transfer pureed veggie mixture to a fine mesh strainer and use the back of a spoon to press out excess moisture. (If it's too wet, the burger wont hold together as well.)
• Combine: Add the strained vegetable mixture to the bowl with the black beans. Add the chili powder, cumin and salt and pepper and stir to combine. Add beaten egg and mix. Stir in bread crumbs.
• Form Patties: scoop mixture into 4 even sized patties, forming them and pressing flat with your hands.

HOMEMADE BLACK BEAN SAUCE

Steps:

• Rinse fermented black beans with tap water, drain, and coarsely chop them. I like to leave some bigger pieces of the beans, to give the sauce more texture.
• (Optional) You can use a food processor to mince all the ingredients. Add black beans, onion, and garlic into a food processor. Blend until both ingredients are minced, but not a fine paste.
• Heat oil and dried chili peppers in a saucepan over medium heat until warm. Turn to medium low heat. Cook until the chili peppers turn dark, but not black. Stir occasionally. Scoop out the chili peppers and discard them.
• Add the black beans and onion. Cook and stir, until the sauce looks a bit dry. (The beans will absorb oil at first, but release the oil once they're cooked.)
• Add Shaoxing wine, light soy sauce, and sugar. Simmer and stir until the onion turns tender. It takes about 10 minutes or so. The sauce can be easily burned, so make sure to keep the heat low and stir the sauce constantly to ensure even cooking.
• Add garlic and ginger (if you're using these ingredients). Continue to cook and stir the sauce until the onion turns very tender. You should see oil floating on top of the sauce.
• Transfer the sauce to a large bowl to cool off completely.
• Store the sauce in an airtight jar in the fridge for 2 weeks to a month.

HOW TO COOK BLACK BEANS FROM SCRATCH

Steps:

• Add the beans, garlic cloves, onion half, and bay leaf to a large pot and cover with 3 to 4 inches of water. Cover and bring to a boil over high heat. Uncover, stir the beans, and reduce the heat to keep the beans at a low simmer.
• Cook, stirring occasionally, at a low simmer until the beans are tender, 1 1/2 to 2 hours. As they cook, if you notice the beans look a little dry, add a bit more water to the pot.
• Remove the garlic cloves, onion, and bay leaf. Add the juice of half a lime and season the beans with salt. Start with 1/4 teaspoon and go from there based on your tastes.
• Serve straightaway or to make the creamy gravy that surrounds the beans in our photos, increase the heat to medium, and then simmer until the liquid around the beans has thickened and sticks to the beans. Serve with additional lime juice squeezed over the top if needed.
• Rinse the dried beans then add to a 6-quart pressure cooker (we have an Instant Pot). Add the garlic cloves, onion half, and bay leaf. Add enough water so that the beans are covered by 1 1/2 inches, but do not fill past the "max fill line." Add 1 teaspoon of neutral oil like vegetable or olive oil (this prevents the beans from foaming).
• Seal the lid and cook on High Pressure for 30 minutes, and then allow the cooker to naturally release (you can tell when it is safe to open the cooker when the steam release valve drops). We recommend you read the user manual of your specific pressure cooker before using this method.
• Remove the onion, garlic cloves, and bay leaf, and then discard them. Add the juice of half a lime and season the beans and liquid with salt. Start with 1/4 teaspoon and go from there based on your tastes.
• Serve straightaway or to make the creamy gravy that surrounds the beans in our photos, turn the pressure cooker to SAUTE and simmer, without the lid until the liquid thickens and starts to stick to the beans. Serve with additional lime juice as needed.

SUPREMELY DELICIOUS BLACK BEANS FROM SCRATCH

Steps:

• Place the beans in a colander and rinse under water. Wash well to rinse out any dirt clumps and pick out any tiny rocks or twigs you might see. Pour into a large soup pot or Dutch oven and cover with water to about 4 inches above the top of the beans. Set in a safe place and let sit for 8 hours or overnight.
• When it's time to cook the beans, discard soaking water by draining the beans in a colander. Give them a quick rinse. Return soaked beans to the pot and add the onion, garlic, bay leaf, and cloves. Add about 10 cups water, filled to about 4 inches above the top of the beans. Set over medium-high heat and bring to a boil. Reduce heat to medium-low and simmer, partially covered, until the beans are tender, 30-40 minutes (longer for higher altitudes). You can tell the beans are done when you blow on them and skins peel back (I also bite into a couple just to be sure!)
• Remove from heat and stir in the salt and red wine vinegar. Remove the bay leaf, bundle of cloves, and any large bits of onion and garlic you can find.
• Scoop them up with a slotted spoon to serve immediately or let then cool then spoon drained beans into airtight zipper bags to freeze for later. They also keep in the fridge in an airtight container for 3-4 days.

EASY HOMEMADE BLACK BEANS RECIPE FROM SCRATCH (VEGAN)

Steps:

• Gather the ingredients.
• Sort and rinse the dry black beans, removing any impurities.
• Add the beans and 2 cups of water (or broth) to a medium saucepan and bring to a boil.
• Cover, remove from heat, and let stand for 1 hour. Drain the beans and set aside.
• Saute the onions and garlic in vegetable oil until onions are soft, about 4 to 6 minutes.
• Add the beans, remaining water (or broth), bay leaves, bouillon cube if using, oregano, hot sauce if using, salt, sugar, and balsamic vinegar.
• Bring to a boil, cover, reduce the heat, and allow to simmer over low heat for about 30 to 45 minutes, or until the beans are done cooking.
• Give the beans an occasional stir from time to time while they are cooking. Keep in mind that once you turn off the heat and remove the pot from the heat, the beans will continue to cook a bit as they cool, so don't be tempted to overcook the beans, unless you are planning on using them for something where you want them extra soft, such as making homemade refried beans.
• Be sure to remove and discard the bay leaves before serving.