Recipe card
About the recipe
Dried black beans soaked and cooked at home are creamy and flavorful, with perfectly seasoned liquid. They taste so delicious that you can serve them as is, but they can also be used for enchiladas, tacos, burritos, rice bowls, etc. I am sharing the easiest and fastest way to cook black beans at home. Cook a big batch, and you can refrigerate it and use it for multiple recipes for up to 7 days or store it in the freezer for up to 2 months. Also, dried black beans cooked are less expensive than canned ones and are low in sodium. Don’t miss out on our popular black beans and rice, as well as quinoa and black bean recipes.
Ingredients
Dried black beans: any brand will work. The fresher, the better. Garlic: Enhances the flavor of the cooked beans. Bay leaf: Adds an aromatic herbal flavor. Cumin: crushed and powdered or ready store-bought powder is used. Black beans and cumin pair well together. Lemon zest: Brightens the flavor. Red pepper flakes: Add the right amount of heat. If you want mild beans, skip it. Check out the recipe card for the full list of the ingredients.
How do you cook black beans on a stovetop with a pressure cooker?
This is the fastest way you can cook black beans. Rinse and soak the black beans in water for 8 hours or overnight. Drain and add the beans to the pressure cooker. Add chile flakes, garlic, lemon zest, salt, cumin powder, bay leaf, oil, and 3 to 3 ½ cups of water and mix well.
Bring this to a boil on medium flame. Cover the pressure cooker with the lid and cook for 2 whistles, which may take 12 to 20 minutes. Once the pressure drops, open the lid, use it as needed, and enjoy.
How to cook black beans on the stove?
Add the soaked and drained black beans and, all the other ingredients, and water. See that the water is atleast 3 to 4 inches above the black beans. Bring it to boil on high heat. Stir and simmer until the beans are tender, approximately for 1 ½ to 2 hours. Taste-check and adjust the seasoning as needed. If the beans look dry and uncooked, add more water and continue cooking.
Black beans instant pot
Add the soaked and drained beans with all the ingredients and water atleast 2 inches above the beans, but do not cross the “max fill line”. Seal your IP lid and cook on HIGH PRESSURE for 30 minutes. Let it release any pressure naturally for 20 minutes, and then remove any remaining pressure manually. Open the lid; the beans should be tender. If they are hard, close the lid and PRESSURE COOK for another 10 minutes.
Tips
Add chopped cilantro and lemon juice once the beans are cooked. The cooked beans can be stored in the refrigerator for up to 5 days and in the freezer for up to 3 months. The cooking time will vary based on how fresh your beans are. Fresher beans will cook faster. Add water and continue cooking if the beans are still not soft and tender in any of the methods. Any excess water left can be used to make soup or as broth. I left the garlic cloves as they were after cooking. You can mash them using the back of a spoon and add them to the beans.
How long to cook black beans?
The time it takes to cook the black beans will depend on how fresh your dried beans are, the water used, and the method you choose to cook them. Older beans and hard water will take longer. Pressure cooking is the fastest way to cook black beans or any dried beans. If you have already soaked the beans, you will need less than 12 to 20 minutes. Another way to cook black beans on the stove is in a pot, uncovered, for 1 ½ to 2 hours. Instant pot will take 30 minutes to cook the beans under high pressure.
Best black bean recipes
Once you have cooked the black beans perfectly from scratch, you will have millions of recipes to try, from simple appetizers to side dishes and main courses. Some of the best ways to eat black beans include burritos, casseroles, enchiladas, rice bowls, tacos, etc. Did you like this recipe? Please leave a star ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ rating below and/or a review in the comments section. You can also stay in touch with us through social media by following us on Pinterest, Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter.
