Cuban Style Black Beans

black beans

🥗Healthier: lentils

💰Cheaper: pinto beans

Lentils are lower in calories and pinto beans are more affordable.

olive oil

🥗Healthier: avocado oil

💰Cheaper: canola oil

Avocado oil has healthy fats while canola is often cheaper.

red wine vinegar

🥗Healthier: apple cider vinegar

💰Cheaper: white vinegar

Apple cider vinegar offers similar acidity with potential health benefits.

cilantro

🥗Healthier: parsley

💰Cheaper: spinach

Parsley provides a fresh flavor while spinach is more affordable.

Soak 14 oz of black beans overnight.

Wash the beans and check for rocks.

Add 4 cups of water and 1 can of chicken broth to a pot.

Add 1 tbsp of olive oil, cover, bring to a boil, then reduce to medium-low and let simmer.

Chop the green bell pepper and small Spanish onion, then mince 3 garlic cloves.

Use a handy chopper to finely chop the bell pepper and onion.

In a small frying pan, sauté the chopped bell pepper and onion on medium heat for about 10 minutes until translucent.

Add the garlic mash (garlic, kosher salt, and black pepper) to the frying pan and cook for 1-2 minutes until fragrant.

Add 1 tsp dried oregano, 1 tsp ground cumin, and 1 packet of Goya Saison to the mixture.

Add 1 tsp white vinegar, 1/4 cup cilantro, and 1 bay leaf to the pot with the beans.

Cover and let simmer for 1 hour.

Remove the bay leaf and use an immersion blender to thicken the beans by blending some of them.

Continue to simmer without the lid to thicken the liquid and darken the beans.

Cooking Techniques

Equipment Needed

Spice Level: