Mom’s Classic Black Beans – 3 Ways
By Melissa Pitts
Black beans are the ultimate comfort food for me–and for my family. After leaving Guatemala in the 1980s these beans were always in our fridge growing up and served as a constant reminder of who we were (you can imagine the ridicule I suffered when everyone else had PB&J sandwiches while I had black bean sandwiches!). My mother once told me she could eat black beans with bread and fresh cheese (queso de capas as it’s known in Guatemala) everyday–and that’s not a joke!
In Guatemala black beans are pretty much the only beans that exist, they’re cheap, fill you up and are high in protein–which is perfect for a country where rampant poverty exists. With these recipes you take one bag of dry black beans and create three different ways to enjoy them: refried, as a broth (to start a meal), and whole (and it’s a great way to use your crock pot). A classic breakfast for me is a black bean sandwich with some cream cheese. I hope you enjoy this simple and classic comfort food as much as I have.
Cook Time: 10 mins
Preparation Time: 10 mins
Yields 6 servings.
Ingredients:
- 1 pound dry black beans
- 1 medium white onion, roughly chopped
- 2 cloves of garlic
- 2 teaspoons salt, and more to desired taste
Directions:
- Rinse the black beans under cold water for a few seconds.
- Transfer the beans to a crock pot and add enough water to cover the beans about an inch to an an inch and half (about 5 cups).
Add the onion, garlic and salt. Turn the crock pot on low for 4-5 hours. Serve as is if you want to keep your beans whole.
**To make refried beans: wait until the beans have slightly cooled. With a slotted spoon transfer the beans to a food processor or blender, add about ¼ cup of the bean liquid and puree until smooth- add more liquid if the beans looks dry and pasty. Heat a medium sized pan on medium heat with two tablespoons canola or vegetable oil. Add the pureed beans and cook until warm. Serve with bread and fresh cheese or cream cheese if desired.
**For the broth: If you hate to waste food like I do, I take the remainder of the liquid from the crock pot and serve in mugs with a touch of sour cream as an appetizer.
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