Wondering what to serve with Cuban Black Beans?īlack beans and rice is a classic combo in Latin America and beyond, and makes a tasty, affordable, nutritious meal. So if you're concerned about too much salt I suggest you look for low salt or salt free black beans.

You can reduce the amount of salt by draining and rinsing the beans but then you lose other nutrients as well as salt. If you're wondering about the relative health benefits of canned vs dried beans, here's the scoop: they're about the same except that some brands add lots of salt to the can. Are canned black beans as healthy as dried? They also provide a good amount of calcium, iron, folic acid, and potassium. They're a good source of protein and a rich source of soluble fiber, the kind that lowers cholesterol. After 15 minutes of simmering, the Cuban Black Beans are ready to enjoy.īlack beans are extremely healthy.If you're a big fan of oregano, feel free to add a teaspoon. I love cumin and I wanted its flavor to dominate so I decided not to include oregano in this recipe. Cumin and oregano are predominant spices in traditional Cuban black beans. Add the rest of the canned beans with their liquid, along with vinegar and spices.This will give the beans a creamy texture. When the sofrito has cooked for a few minutes add the first can of beans to the pot and smash them with the back of a fork. Once the bacon is nicely browned in spots and has rendered some fat, add the aromatic vegetables: red bell pepper, onion and garlic.Start by sautéing the bacon in a bit of olive oil.Vegetarians can substitute vegetarian bacon. It's amazing how much flavor is created by sautéing aromatic vegetables and a little bacon!

A small amount of bacon adds a wonderful smokiness to this dish. Pork is a popular ingredient in Cuban cuisine. These aromatic vegetables are used in this easy recipe - sautéed to create the flavor base for the beans. How to make quick and easy Cuban black beansĬanned black beans is the main ingredient in this easy recipe.Ī key component of authentic Cuban black beans is the sofrito which consists of onions, garlic and green or red bell pepper. Also delicious the next day as a main dish, scooped onto rice and topped with sliced avocado and a squeeze of fresh lime juice. It's the perfect side dish with Ropa Vieja. I developed this quick Cuban black beans recipe using canned beans instead of dried and I have to say it is muy delicioso - rich and creamy, infused with flavors of cumin, garlic and smoky bacon. The combo of being back in my home kitchen and having a delicious meaty stew simmering away that needed a side of black beans, inspired me to do some recipe testing. I've been missing it in London and couldn't wait to pull it out for slow cooker ropa vieja (Cuban shredded beef stew). I was back home in Boston recently, where my slow cooker lives. When you want your black beans fast this recipe will give you delicious Cuban black beans in 35 minutes. For when you want delicious black beans fast!Ĭuban Black Beans (Frijoles negros) are central to Cuban cuisine, served as a side dish with almost every meal and as a main course, scooped onto steaming rice with toppings like sliced avocado and lime wedges.īlack beans from scratch are great, but the fact is many of us don't always have time for an overnight soak and hours of cooking. Here's a quick easy Cuban Black Beans recipe using canned black beans, aromatic vegetables and smokey bacon.

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