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Serving bowl of cooked black beans recipe topped with fresh cilantro and lime slices

Black Beans Recipe

A foolproof black beans recipe made from scratch tender, flavorful, and versatile, with a secret charred onion trick that adds smoky depth. Perfect for meal prep, tacos, bowls, or as a side.
5 from 1 vote
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Course: Main dish, Side Dish
Cuisine: Cuban, Latin American, Mexican, Vegan, Vegetarian
Keyword: Black beans recipe from scratch, Black beans recipe Indian, Black beans recipe Mexican, Cuban black beans recipe, Dry black beans recipe, How to make black beans from can, Simple black bean recipes, Traditional black bean recipes
Prep Time: 10 minutes
Cook Time: 1 hour
Soaking Time: 8 hours
Total Time: 9 hours 10 minutes
Servings: 8 servings
Calories: 165kcal
Cost: $5

Equipment

  • 1 Heavy-bottomed pot or Dutch oven (for even simmering)
  • 1 Fine mesh strainer (to rinse beans)
  • 1 Large mixing bowl (for soaking)

Ingredients

  • 1 lb 450 g Dried black beans - Sorted & soaked overnight
  • 1 medium Yellow onion - Diced plus 1 whole, charred optional
  • 4 cloves Garlic - Minced
  • 2 Bay leaves - Remove before serving
  • 2 teaspoon Kosher salt - Add last 15 minutes
  • ½ teaspoon Black pepper - Freshly ground
  • 1 teaspoon Ground cumin
  • 1 teaspoon Smoked paprika
  • 1 teaspoon Dried oregano
  • ¼ cup Fresh cilantro - Chopped for garnish
  • 1 medium Tomato - Diced optional
  • 1 tablespoon Lime juice - Fresh squeezed optional
  • 1 Jalapeño pepper - Diced optional
  • 1 Bell pepper - Diced optional

Instructions

  • Sort and soak the black beans overnight in plenty of water for even cooking.
    Pan of assorted colorful dried beans with a wooden spoon
  • Sauté onion until soft then add garlic, making sure it does not burn.
    Metal bowl with cooked beans, chopped onions, and minced garlic
  • Cook beans gently with bay leaves while checking water level every twenty minutes.
    Metal pot with simmering red beans, onions, herbs, and bay leaves
  • Stir in salt and spices during the last minutes so the beans stay tender.
    Black pot filled with cooked black beans, bay leaves, and spices
  • Let beans rest before garnishing with cilantro, lime juice, or fresh toppings.
    Serving bowl of cooked black beans recipe topped with fresh cilantro and lime slices

Notes

Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.

Nutrition

Serving: 125g | Calories: 165kcal (8%) | Carbohydrates: 29g (10%) | Protein: 11g (22%) | Fat: 1g (2%) | Polyunsaturated Fat: 0.3g | Monounsaturated Fat: 0.2g | Sodium: 300mg (13%) | Potassium: 600mg (17%) | Fiber: 10g (42%) | Sugar: 1g (1%) | Vitamin A: 50IU (1%) | Vitamin C: 2mg (2%) | Calcium: 50mg (5%) | Iron: 2.5mg (14%)
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