black beans Archives - Taste With The Eyes

Black Bean Soup with Salsa Verde

Fiesta in a Bowl
Black Bean Soup with Salsa Verde

This is one sassy black bean soup. It is easy to make and gets a kick of heat and smoky authentic flavor from the addition of fire-roasted salsa verde added at the end of cooking. Let each diner go crazy with the garnishes according to their own taste: pickled red onion, garlic crema, tomato, jalapeño, and cilantro all add to this fiesta in a bowl. The black bean canvas is artistically painted with a array of flavors, textures, and colors.

With only 4 ingredients (tomatillos, jalapeños, salt, and water) – our favorite Salsa de Molcajete Verde from the refrigerated section at the supermarket, adds robust Mexican taste without having to take the extra steps to roast chiles and tomatillos over an open flame.

Black Bean Soup with Salsa Verde Recipe

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A Unique Pasta Made of Black Beans – Gluten-Free, Lower-Carb

Black Bean Spaghetti
with
Butternut Squash, Mushrooms, Kale, Cabbage
Parmesan and Chives
in a
Savory Garlic Sauce

This spaghetti is made from 92% black beans and 8% water and has 25 grams of protein and 12 grams of fiber in every serving. I discovered it at my local Whole Foods Market in 2013 and have been a fan ever since.

The flavor is definitely reminiscent of beans, and the tooth is chewy in a pleasant way. It turns out that this gluten-free pasta substitute is actually good. Really good. I love the creamy black color, al dente texture, mild sweet bean-y flavor, and earthy aroma. Generally, dried pastas have 5 to 7 grams of protein and 2 to 3 grams of fiber per serving, so, not only is this black bean spaghetti quite tasty, it is more nutritious as well. Where beans replace flour, it is naturally lower in carbohydrates, with 17 grams of carbs per serving.

I pair this black pasta with bright colorful vegetables – butternut squash, mushrooms, kale, and cabbage – and a super savory garlic sauce. Finished with freshly grated parmesan and a sprinkling of chives – this dish has broad appeal – even if one is not looking for a gluten-free and low-carb pasta substitute.

Black Bean Spaghetti Recipe

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Linguini, Smoky Avocado Sauce, Black Beans, Lime

Linguini, Grilled Avocado Sauce with Lime & Cilantro
Topped with Black Beans, Red Onion & Serrano

Been seeing the avocado puréed, and used as a sauce or dressing a lot lately? I sure have. With pasta, as a substitute for mayonnaise in tuna salad, as a substitute for hollandaise with fresh fish or vegetables. Great heart-healthy ideas all!

Here, I take flavors that pair well with avocado such as lime, green chile, red onion, cilantro, black beans…and re-mix them into a refreshing green pasta dish. And by adding one more layer of flavor – smoke – the silky sauce takes on another dimension. Lime juice keeps it bright, and serrano kicks up the heat. It’s a healthy pasta fiesta!

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Ladrillo de Brisket, Modern Southwest Style

Ladrillo de Brisket, Modern Southwest Style
Rioja Chipolte Agave Black Bean Sauce

Smoked Wagyu Brisket @ Laurelhurst

Kirk ordered the 12 Hour-Smoked Wagyu Brisket/Ozark BBQ Sauce pictured right there behind the Grilled Romaine with Romesco at Laurelhurst Market, the exciting new steakhouse inspired brasserie in Portland, Oregon. I have been making brisket for years, but it never occurred to me to cut in any other way than against the grain, into long slices. Here at Laurelhurst was the inspiration for future brisket presentations – serve the brisket as a brick, leave the slicing and shredding to the diner!

Duck “Enfrijolada” with Poached Organic Egg @ Rivera

Another inspiration came from Chef John Sedlar’s Rivera Restaurant in downtown LA. We had a most delightful experience there a couple weeks ago. Our server mentioned that the duck sauce ingredients included chiles, piloncillo (Mexican brown sugar), black beans, and Spanish red wine reduction…it had just a hint of sweetness and a hint of smoky spiciness – a combination of flavors that was bound to be perfect with brisket at our upcoming Modern Southwest dinner party.

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