Creamy Black Beans Recipes

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.***

CREAMY BLACK BEANS

Steps:

• Soak the beans in a pot of water overnight. Drain.
• Heat the olive oil in the pot over medium heat. Add the onion, garlic, jalapeno and cumin and cook, stirring occasionally, about 5 minutes. Add the oregano and the beans, then add enough water to cover (about 9 cups). Increase the heat to medium high and bring to a boil, then reduce the heat to medium low, partially cover and cook, stirring occasionally, until the beans are just tender, about 3 hours.
• Add 2 teaspoons salt and simmer, uncovered, stirring occasionally, until the liquid is mostly absorbed, about 45 minutes. Season with salt. Let sit 15 minutes before serving; top with queso fresco and cilantro, if desired.

CREAMY BLACK BEANS

Steps:

• If using dried beans, rinse and drain 1 lb. dried black beans in a colander or fine-mesh sieve; transfer to a large bowl. Pour in water to cover by 2" and let soak in refrigerator at least 4 hours and up to 12 hours.
• Heat 5 Tbsp. vegetable oil in a small pot over medium-high. Cook ¼ large white onion, thinly sliced, 3 garlic cloves, thinly sliced, and ½ medium jalapeño, thinly sliced, stirring often, until beginning to take on some color, 6-8 minutes. Add 3 bay leaves, 1½ pasilla chiles, halved, seeds removed, 1 guajillo chile, halved, seeds removed, 1 Tbsp. ground cumin, 2 tsp. dried oregano, 1½ tsp. dried thyme, and 1 tsp. freshly ground black pepper. Cook, stirring often, until fragrant, about 2 minutes.
• If using dried beans, add beans and their soaking liquid to pot and pour in more water so beans are covered by 2". Bring to a boil, then reduce heat and simmer, adding more water as needed to keep beans submerged, until beans are tender, 45-55 minutes.
• If using canned beans, add three (15.5-oz.) cans black beans (do not rinse) to pot and pour in more water so beans are covered by 2". Bring to a boil, then reduce heat and simmer, adding more water as needed to keep beans submerged, until flavors have come together, 15-20 minutes.
• Drain beans in a fine-mesh sieve set over a large bowl; remove bay leaves and discard. Working in 2 batches if needed, purée bean mixture and ¾ cup bean broth in a blender, adding more bean broth if needed, until thick and hummus-like in consistency. Taste and season with salt. Discard any remaining bean broth. Do ahead: Beans can be cooked 5 days ahead. Let cool; cover and chill. Reheat over low, stirring often.

CREAMY BLACK BEANS

Steps:

• Combine first five ingredients in a blender. (Or save the salsa to add later, if you want more salsa chunks in your dip.).
• Blend until very smooth.
• Drizzle in the tahini, and salsa if you didn't yet, and blend again till well combined.
• Refrigerate until ready to serve.

CREAMY BLACK BEAN DIP

Steps:

• In a food processor, cover and process cream cheese until smooth. Add half of the beans; cover and pulse until blended. Transfer to a bowl; stir in the cheese, onions, cumin, cayenne and remaining beans. Cover and refrigerate for 8 hours or overnight., Just before serving, garnish with cheese, tomato and onion. Serve with tortilla chips.