Cuban Black Beans

These slow-cooked and savory Cuban black beans, simmered in a garlicky, tomatoey broth, will make your kitchen smell like it’s time to eat. They’re also protein-packed and vegan, and they can round out breakfast (divine with scrambled eggs), elevate a lunch salad or play the part of a satisfying side dish at dinner.

Ingredients for Cuban Black Beans

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• Black beans: The base and essence of the dish, black beans take center stage in this recipe, accented with fresh vegetables and herbs to make a filling and satisfying dish.
• Bay leaf: The bay leaf infuses these Cuban black beans with an herbal flavor reminiscent of thyme and oregano, but milder. (Just be sure to discard it before serving!)
• Green peppers: Peppers add texture and crunch. The sweet taste of these peppers also complements the starchiness of the dish and pairs well with the onion and garlic broth.
• Onions: This aromatic, along with the garlic, greatly enhance the broth’s flavor as well as the beans themselves.
• Olive oil: When you saute veggies in olive oil, you’re doing your body good. This method helps preserve key nutrients (lost when boiling) and also keeps the veggies tender.
• Garlic: Aromatic garlic added to this Cuban black bean recipe helps make the broth buttery soft.
• Tomato puree: This addition is what makes the difference between so-so broth and the kind where you don’t want to leave anything on your plate. Made from cooked and strained tomatoes, the puree is thicker than traditional tomato sauce.
• Sherry or chicken broth: You can’t go wrong with either option. Both serve as a liquid base that melds with seasonings, aromatics and tomato puree to create the rich and savory bean broth flavor.
• Sugar: Like salt, sugar balances out the overall flavor profile, ensuring these Cuban black beans are neither too savory nor too rich.

Directions

Step 1: Rinse and sort the beans

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After rinsing and sorting, soak the beans according to the package directions. Drain and rinse the beans, discarding the liquid.

Step 2: Cook the beans

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Place beans in a large saucepan; add 6 cups of water and the bay leaf. Bring to a boil. Reduce heat; cover and simmer until tender, 1 hour and 30 minutes to 2 hours.

Step 3: Cook the remaining ingredients

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Meanwhile, in a large skillet, saute peppers and onions in oil until tender. Add garlic; cook one minute longer. Stir in the tomato puree, sherry, sugar and salt. Bring to a boil. Reduce heat; simmer, uncovered, until thickened, 8 to 10 minutes. Drain the beans; discard the bay leaf. Stir beans into tomato mixture.

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Cuban Black Bean Variations

• Opt for the oven: An overnight soak is the longest step here. After that, simply drain, rinse and then pour beans into an oven-safe pot filled with water. The beans will take about two hours to cook fully. Then proceed with the recipe as directed, starting at Step 3.
• Make it colorful: Traditional Cuban black beans call for green bell pepper, but you can easily up the color, crunch and nutrition factor with red, orange and yellow bell peppers too. Part of the beauty of this recipe is in its versatility. Load in these veggies to your heart’s content.
• Add a little cumin: The nutty and earthy notes of cumin will elevate this already savory dish. No need to adjust the other spices here. Adding just a dash of cumin will give the dish more depth and richness.

How to Freeze Cuban Black Beans

The good news is that cooked black beans freeze well and can be frozen for up to three months. That’s a great way to not let your labor go to waste, especially if you’re making this just for enjoyment at home and not feeding a large crowd.

Moisture is key here. Once you’ve portioned out the beans you intend to freeze, save enough room at the top of each container for the beans to expand, and so you can add a little liquid before sealing. This will help prevent the beans from drying out. When you get ready to use them, plan ahead and allow the beans to thaw in the fridge. This will help preserve their shape.

Cuban Black Bean Tips

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What is the tastiest way to eat black beans?

While the answer is subjective, a few ideas for inspiration include a Mexican-style omelet, or mashed and spread into a wrap filled with broccoli slaw. You can also give our contest-winning Black Bean Soup a try, or one of our other favorite black bean recipes (yours will be better because you’re starting from dried).

How do you make black beans less bitter?

Salt is the hero flavor enhancer here, but it’s helped out considerably by seasonings like a bay leaf and aromatic onion. When black beans have a bitter taste, it’s because they are under-seasoned.

What are some health benefits of black beans?

Low in cholesterol, naturally gluten free and vegan, black beans are considered a heart-healthy food. They are also loaded with many superfood characteristics, boasting anti-inflammatory properties and an impressive amount of vitamins and minerals, including folate, iron, magnesium and potassium.