When you learn how to cook black beans, you learn the hundreds of ways to make new recipes. You've opened a new world of recipes. However, learning how to cook black beans is the central part of it all. Undercooking or overcooking them could leave you feeling discouraged.
Black beans are an essential part of Central and South America. It's a significant part of Mexican, Spanish, and Puerto Rican diets. They all have added their unique way of cooking black beans. They've added spices, cooked them in ovens and pots, and even grilled them. But what's the best way to eat black beans?
This guide walks you through everything you need to know about black beans. We look at the two unique ways you can cook them, common mistakes to avoid when you cook them, and the various recipes you can make after you've mastered making the tastiest black beans.
What Kind of Black Beans Should You Choose?
©/ via Getty Images
Before you choose to cook black beans, you need to know what kind of black beans you want from your local grocery store. Domino, Blackhawk, Condor, and Raven are the most common types of black beans. One of the most popular kinds of beans you'll find at the store is Black Raven.
You'll find them in dried form or a can already prepared at your local grocery store. Choosing one over the other is a matter of preference. They have different tastes and textures. You might find one more suitable for a specific recipe than the other.
Whatever black beans you choose, you'll discover they offer many health benefits. For example, they are rich in protein, fiber, and antioxidants. These are helpful for digestion and improving your overall immune system. They are also great at regulating blood pressure, sugar levels, and energy. Additionally, you'll find that eating black beans also helps strengthen bones. Black beans also contain quercetin and saponins, which help protect your heart.
Baking the Black Beans
If you don't want to cook black beans in a pot, then the best way to cook them is in the oven. You'll find different recipes that can cook a tasty black bean recipe in less than an hour.
One of the best recipes for baked black beans comes with many ingredients. However, you can add or remove any less-than-desirable ingredients to make it your own.
Here are the steps to making a favorite black bean recipe in the oven. Mixing all these ingredients in a Dutch oven before baking is important.
- Cook eight slices of bacon and cut up into small pieces.
- Cut up two bell peppers.
- Dice up a yellow onion.
- Dice up three garlic cloves.
- 1/2 tablespoon chili powder.
- 1/2 teaspoon dried oregano.
- 1 teaspoon ground mustard.
- 2 teaspoon kosher salt.
- 2 tablespoons brown sugar.
- 1/4 cup apple cider vinegar.
- 1/3 cup molasses.
- 2 (15-oz) cans of black beans, drained and rinsed.
After you've mixed these in a Dutch oven, bake everything for about one hour. Now you have some of the tastiest oven-baked black beans.
Cooking the Black Beans on the Stove
There are also plenty of recipes to consider if you prefer to cook black beans on the stove and in a pot. You can also diversify this recipe based on what you're looking for in a specific recipe.
Here are the steps to making black beans in a pot on the stove:
- Two cans of black beans.
- Eight cups of water.
- One and a half teaspoons of sea salt
- Three garlic cloves
- One bay leaf
Mix this in the pot on a medium heat. Bring it to a simmer and enjoy!
Different Recipes to Make With White Rice
While you can cook the recipes mentioned in this article on the stove or in a pot, other ways exist to enjoy making black beans. You can heat black beans in the microwave and enjoy them plain from a can. You can also cook them plain in a pot over medium heat in a pot.
However you like to make them, you'll discover endless ways to enjoy black beans. Here's a list of the most popular ways to enjoy black beans.
- Black beans with burritos and tacos
- Black bean dip
- Black bean and rice casserole
- Cuban-style black beans
- Black bean rice bowls
These meals offer a way to make recipes that include black beans. There's no end to the number of ways you can cook with black beans and the recipes you can enjoy. Trying different ones can give you a better idea of how you like to cook your black beans.
The image featured at the top of this post is ©/ via Getty Images.