Black Beans

  • Food, Snacks & Sides

    Quick Non-Cook Mexican Beans

    Quick non-cook Mexican beans

    In our house we love Mexican night, we always have done long before we started following any particular nutritional paths and as our thoughts and tastes change I have developed some amazing new recipes, one of which I want to bring to you today!

     

    Healthy?

    Black beans are packed with nutrients such as fibre, potassium, Folate and Vitamin B6. Black beans are full of photo-nutrients (meaning they are plant based) and help to support heart health, lowering cholesterol and decreasing the risk of heart disease. The green lentils are a brilliant source of folate, as well as being a good source of fibre, copper, phosphorus and manganese. Also, if that wasn’t enough they have a load of vitamins and minerals packed into them, such as iron, protein, Vitamin B1, pantothenic acid, zinc and potassium. WOW!

     

    We also know that tomatoes are great too, helping us with vitamin A, C and K, as well as vitamin B6 and folate. They are recorded as helping issues such as diabetes, lowering cholesterol and reducing blood pressure. Plus, this recipe included Jalapeno peppers, which have been mentioned in terms of reducing high blood pressure, helping arthritis, headaches and weight loss, along with many other illnesses and ailments. This recipe is a complete gamechanger for your health!

     

     

    Quick Non Cook Mexican Beans

    Ingredients

    • Black beans (230g)
    • Green lentils (230g)
    • Tomatoes chopped (I use little plum tomatoes and I quarter them)
    • Jalapeno peppers
    • 2 teaspoons Garlic powder
    • 2 teaspoons Paprika
    • 2 teaspoons Cumin

     

    Method

    • Drain the beans and lentils and add to a large bowl.
    • Chop tomatoes and add to bowl
    • Chop the Jalapeños and add them to the bowl
    • Mix the spices together, add to the bowl and mix all.
    • It is now ready to serve. You could have it in tacos, wraps or eat it as it is!

     

    I use the organic black beans and green lentils from Sainsbury’s and they just require draining before use.

    beans

  • Food, Snacks & Sides

    Non Refried Mexican Beans

    Healthy Refried beans?

    You might have seen my previous post on quick non-cook Mexican beans. Like I said in that post, we love Mexican in our house and if you are a big Mexican food lover like we are then I have a great little recipe you will want to try on your next Mexican night.

     

    Refried beans sound and look as though they might be really unhealthy. Fried? Refried? Not only are we here to tell that refried beans aren’t actually as unhealthy as you think plus we’re going to give you a great recipe to make your own. Where possible making your own recipes rather than relying on shop bought food is always best. Many shop bought food items are filled with fillers, preservatives, chemicals and of course sugar and salt. You can make amazing alternatives, without all these additional ingredients that are no good for you, and we promise they will taste just as good, if not better!

     

    Non Refried Mexican Beans

    Ingredients

    • Black Beans (230g)
    • Almond Milk
    • 1 tsp of garlic powder
    • 1 Tsp of Paprika
    • 1 Tsp of Cumin

     

    Method

    • Add the black beans to a pan and cover with almond milk.
    • Add the spices into the pan and mix.
    • Put the pan on the hob at a medium heat. At this point you are looking to reduce to milk to nothing without burning the beans.
    • Put a lid on the beans and leave them for 5 minutes.
    • Check the beans and stir them. The mixture will be wet on the top and the beans will have started to break down to a mush. Continue this process until you are happy with the consistency and texture.

     

    The goal of this dish is to have mushy beans that are just like refried beans but without all the salt that has been added to the shop bought variety.