More black bean recipes
What can you do with a can of black beans? Let us count the ways. Here are some of our favorite black bean recipes: Why we love this recipe: This one is on repeat at our house because it’s so simple and so tasty. It’s zingy and refreshing, with a burst of sweetness from corn and zingy lime. It will become your “back pocket” idea for everything: bring it to cookouts and picnics, eat it as a side or in bowl meals, or even dip it with tortilla chips! I cannot tell you how many times we’ve made this.
Canned black beans: You can also use pre-cooked black beans if desired; one 15-ounce can is 1 ½ cups cooked. Canned corn: We like canned corn here, since it has nice sweet flavor and a soft texture. You can use fresh corn, either cooked or raw, if you have it on hand. Fresh pico de gallo (aka fresh salsa): Use purchased pico de gallo to make this a 5 minute salad! Cumin, salt and olive oil: These seasonings round out the flavors. Optional ingredients: When we have time, we like to add a little chopped cilantro or lime juice or zest to amp the flavor even more.
The nice thing about using purchased pico is that you can find it in the fresh food section, already chopped up and ready to mix into the salad! It helps to make a natural dressing for the salad with the acidity of the lime juice. That’s ok: just make your own pico de gallo! The salad will take a little longer to make, but it’s worth it for the flavor! Mix up half of this pico de gallo recipe.
Fresh cilantro: You can add it either torn or finely chopped. It adds a nice green color to the salad and fresh flavor. Use a large handful (no need to measure). Lime zest or juice: If you have a fresh lime on hand, it adds a nice refreshing flavor as well. We typically use the juice or zest of half of a lime, grated with a Microplane grater. Cotija, queso fresco, or feta cheese: Adding a savory cheese makes the flavor pop even more.
As an easy lunch salad, with crackers or chips As a fast and easy appetizer, with tortilla chips In a rice bowl with cilantro lime rice, or in a taco salad or burrito bowl In a taco like tofu tacos, shrimp tacos or egg tacos, or as a side for tacos On nachos like sheet pan nachos Over a sweet potato, like baked sweet potato or sweet potato wedges With shrimp, like grilled shrimp skewers Over fish, like grilled tilapia, grilled tuna steak or grilled cod
Go from can to side dish in 5 minutes with this black beans recipe, or mix up a pot of black bean soup. Snack on black bean hummus. Make up a batch of tasty black beans and rice or Cuban black beans. Throw them into chili for black bean chili, or make refried black beans.
Frequently asked questions
4.8 from 4 reviews **You’ll find this packaged in the refrigerated section at your local grocery, labeled as pico de gallo or fresh salsa. If you can’t find it, make this pico de gallo recipe. We’ve found this recipe really depends on the brand of pico de gallo: if it seems dry or needs more flavor, add a little more lime juice, a drizzle more oil, or more salt. Other additions: Cotija cheese, queso fresco, or feta cheese are nice additions here.
