Black Bean Pilaf Recipe (2024)

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What is the tastiest way to eat black beans? ›

Best Black Bean Recipes

Season them with lime juice and zest, chili powder, oregano, and/or cilantro, and serve them as a side dish with Mexican or Latin American-inspired dishes like tacos or taquitos. Paired with some cilantro lime rice, they could also pass as a meal on their own!

Rice and black beans both have protein, and beans are full of fiber. Paired together, they provide a very filling meal. One serving has 6.5 grams of protein and 4.5 grams of fiber. They also both have a variety of vitamins and minerals.

Black and pinto beans' flavor is pretty moderate and not overpowering. They are both fairly creamy as well. Black beans are slightly more similar to meat, so they can work well as a meat substitute. Ultimately, we love both types of beans, but everyone will have their own flavor preference!

According to Larousse Gastronomique, pilaf (aka pilau) is a method of cooking rice in which the rice is “browned in oil or butter with onion, then cooked in stock; halfway through cooking, vegetables, meat, or fish may be added.” The author goes on to say that pilaf is “always spiced,” often with saffron.

Technically, canned black beans are already cooked, and you can use them right out of the can. Cooking canned black beans will make them taste even better.

Add oregano and cumin and sauté, stirring frequently, until vegetables are tender, adding a few drops of water if they begin to stick. Add contents of cans of black beans and bring to a boil. Reduce heat and simmer for 20-25 minutes, to allow flavors to blend. Add chopped cilantro and lime juice and stir.

In fact, most Latin American and African meals would not be complete without them! Different regions have their own favorite rice and bean pairings: In Brazil, black beans are most popular in beans-and-rice combinations, as well as in the Caribbean's famous black bean soup, sopa de frijol negro.

The combination of rice and beans gives you even more protein and fiber, as well as other important vitamins and minerals, like folate. Although it probably won't harm you to eat rice and beans every day, it's best to include a variety of nutritious foods in your diet for complete nutrition.

What kind of beans does Chipotle use? ›

Condor, Blackhawk, Domino, Valentine, and Black Magic. No, that's not a group of superheroes - it's actually the delicious list of black bean varieties we serve at Chipotle. Not to be confused with the ever-popular pinto beans we also serve at Chipotle, black beans are the perfect accompaniment to chicken or steak.

The general consensus is that pilaf originated in Persia, where it's first mentioned in recorded history. Pilaf follows the migration patterns of ancient Persians through the Middle East, Asia and Europe. From there, colonization brought pilaf to the Americas.

Basmati is a go-to choice for pilaf, biryani, plov, the classic Persian dish called chelow and as a base for curry. Jasmine is a top pick for fried rice, com do (Vietnamese red rice) and hung kao mung gati (Thai coconut rice).

If your rice has absorbed too much liquid, the grains may have split and the starches may have given the rice a soft, gluey consistency. One way to fix that? Add even more liquid. Pour in some milk, a dash of vanilla, and spoonful of sugar, and suddenly your mushy rice is a rich rice pudding.

The only way to really attempt to get rid of it is to dilute it by adding more ingredients to the soup, but that bitter taste is always going to linger in the background. You don't need to soak black beans. They're thin skinned so all you need do is boil them until they're done.

I like to sprinkle in some taco seasoning, but you could add whatever spices you like — garlic powder, cumin, and chili powder are all good calls. Then, you mash the beans up directly in the pan and add just a little bit of vinegar at the end to really make the beans sing.

You'll be surprised by how easy it is to turn a couple of canned black beans into a simple, quick, and flavorful side of Seasoned Black Beans. Enjoy them in your burrito bowls, alongside some fajitas, with fish tacos, or over a bed of hot rice!

Sometimes black beans can come out tasting bitter. To prevent this, be sure to use an appropriate amount of salt. This recipe calls for a tablespoon, but don't forget to taste for salt when your soup is finished and add more if desired; it will depend on how salty your bacon is, too.