Cuban-Style Black Bean and Rice Bowls

Cuban-style black beans go tex-mex! Served with rice they are a satisfying meal in themselves, especially when you load them up with toppings like sour cream, tomatoes, avocado and tortilla chips for scooping.

Black beans have a ton of flavor all on their own. Their earthy flavor only intensifies when seasoned with oregano, bay leaf and cumin along with a sofrito of onion, bell pepper and garlic.

The goal is to cook the beans until they’re super soft and creamy so they just about melt in your mouth. You can mash up a cup or two of the beans and add them back to the pot for extra creaminess.

They’re best made in the slow cooker but I’ve also included the stove top method in the recipe. They are a bit of work as they call for dried beans that need soaking first. I included a quick method for that too.

The good thing is the recipe makes a lot so you can count on leftovers unless you’re feeding a crowd.

Cuban-Style Black Bean Bowls

Rating: 51

Prep Time: 30 minutes

Cook Time: 2 hours, 40 minutes

Total Time: 3 hours, 10 minutes

Yield: 4-6 servings

Cuban-Style Black Bean Bowls

Cuban-style black beans go tex-mex! Served with rice and toppings like sour cream, tomatoes, avocado and tortilla chips for scooping, they are a meal in themselves.

Ingredients

1 pound dried black beans
1 bay leaf
2 teaspoons dried oregano, crushed between fingertips
4 tablespoons olive oil
1 tablespoon ground cumin
1 large onion, diced
1 small green bell pepper, diced
6 cloves garlic, minced
sea or kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper
fresh cilantro leaves, chopped
for the bowls:
cooked rice
your choice of:
avocado/guacamole
sour cream
hot sauce
shredded cheese
diced tomatoes/salsa
tortilla chips

Instructions

    Soak the black beans using one of the methods below before using.
    Stovetop Directions:
  1. Put beans, bay leaf, oregano, and 1 tablespoon of the oil into a large pot, then cover with cold water by 3". Bring to a boil over high heat then reduce heat to medium-low and simmer, adding more water as needed to keep beans covered, until beans are very soft about 2 hours.
  2. Heat remaining oil in a medium skillet over medium-low heat and add cumin, onions, green peppers and garlic. Saute until soft and onions translucent. Season to taste with salt and pepper, then add to beans. Continue cooking beans, stirring occasionally for 15-20 minutes, tasting and reseasoning as needed. For a super creamy texture remove a cup of the beans, smash them up and mix back in. Remove bay leaf before serving. Garnish with chopped cilantro. Serve with rice and your choice of toppings.
  3. Crockpot Directions:
  4. Add the beans, bay leaf, oregano, 1 tablespoon oil and enough water to cover the beans by 2".
  5. Heat remaining oil in a medium skillet over medium-low heat and add cumin, onions, green peppers and garlic, saute until soft and onions translucent. Add to beans.
  6. Cook on high 4-5 hours on high or 8 hours on low until beans are very soft. For a super creamy texture remove a cup of the beans, smash them up and mix back in. Remove bay leaf. Garnish with cilantro. Serve with rice and your choice of toppings.
  7. Quick Soak Method: Sort and rinse beans. Add to a large pot with 6-8 cups cold water, bring to a rapid boil and boil for 2 minutes. Remove from heat, cover and let stand for 1 water. Drain and rinse before using.
    Long Soak Method: The night before sort through the dried beans and throw away any stones. Rinse under cold water and place in a pot with 6-8 cups of water and allow to soak overnight.* Drain and rinse before using.

Notes

Adapted from Saveur

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Comments

  1. Chris says:

    That would definitely be a meal for me, in a bowl or a tortilla!
    Chris recently posted..Grilled Pork Pie with Creamy Creole ColeslawMy Profile

  2. Mary says:

    I giggled when I saw your page today, because I roasted sweet potatoes very much like you did, just a few nights ago. I also served my guys black bean and rice burrito bowls last night for dinner. Apparently, we are thinking alike! Any chance you are making stuffed peppers tonight? ;)

    Have a great week!

  3. Looks great! Love black beans and rice!
    Andrea @ From the Bookshelf recently posted..Grandmother’s BiscuitsMy Profile

  4. Love this recipe. Rice bowls are such a great way to enjoy so many different flavors together. The black beans provide so much flavor and protein and then topped with some different veggies and spices they just get better!
    Becki’s Whole Life recently posted..Buttermilk Sweet Potato BiscuitsMy Profile

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