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Black Beans with Smoked Salsa

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Black Beans with Smoked Salsa

by Dawn T in Rouxbe Videos

Black beans with smoked salsa and coconut milk - a mildly sweet and spicy combination.

Serves
4 to 6
Active Time
30 mins
Total Time
10 hrs

Step 1: Cleaning and Cooking the Beans

Cleaning and Cooking the Beans
  • 1 cup dried black beans
  • 3 to 5 cloves garlic
  • 1 tsp Kosher salt
  • 2 bay leaves

To start the beans, first sort through to remove any stones.
Rinse well and cover with cold water. Once the beans have soaked, drain them, and place into a medium-sized pot. Turn the heat to medium-high and bring to a boil. Mince the garlic and add to the pot, along with the bay leaves.

Once the beans come to a boil, turn to medium-low and let simmer for about 1 to 1 ½ hours. Skim the surface occasionally to remove any scum and check from time to time to make sure they are simmering, not boiling.

You may need to adjust the heat and add a bit of water if you notice it has evaporated too much. Once the beans have softened, you can add the salt. After about an hour test the beans for doneness. Once they are just cooked through, but not mushy, drain the beans and remove the bay leaves.

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Step 2: Finishing the Beans

Finishing the Beans
  • 1/2 tsp chipotle pepper puree (optional and to taste)
  • 1 tsp pure maple syrup (optional)
  • 1/4 cup Salsa de Molcajete (on Rouxbe)
  • 1 cup coconut milk
  • salt (to taste)

To finish the beans, place into a clean pot. Add the chipotle pepper puree, maple syrup, salsa and coconut milk and stir. Bring to a simmer over medium-low heat. Stir occasionally to prevent anything from sticking to the bottom. Let simmer until the beans absorb most of the coconut milk. As the coconut milk reduces, the mixture will get thicker. Now taste for seasoning and serve. These can be served as a side dish or add grated cheese over top and serve with corn chips.

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Notes

Black beans are also known as turtle beans. Black beans hold their shape well during cooking and have a velvety texture.

All beans should be soaked prior to cooking. This helps to reduce the cooking time and also removes some of the gases, making them easier to digest. There are a few ways to soak beans. After sorting and rinsing, soak in cold water for no more than 8 hours, then rinse.

If you have forgotten to soak the beans in advance, bring them to a boil over high heat for about 3 minutes. Drain, rinse with cold water and continue with the recipe.

You can add aromatics and spices, but do not add salt or acidic ingredients in the early stages of cooking. They will toughen the skins and slow the cooking time.

In this recipe, we're using Salsa de Molcajete, which add a wonderful smoky flavor, but you can use any salsa you prefer.