I love black beans.
I buy small containers of black beans from a local Cuban restaurant.
They are good but expensive. Plus, the restaurant is far away, adding the feeling of a pilgrimage to buy them.
I could eat one container in one sitting, but I stretch the beans by adding them to burritos, salads, or rice. Sometimes, I do eat them plain. They are so good.
Yesterday I decided I would break the cycle and cook my own black beans from scratch.
Dried organic black turtle beans sell for $3.99 a pound at my grocer, less than the cost of one small container of cooked beans.
I approach this with trepidation.
I have not had good luck cooking black beans. Probably too much liquid or too little attention to the beans as they cooked resulting in mushy, flavorless beans.
To begin this rustic cooking journey, I measured one cup of dried beans and soaked them overnight in the refrigerator.
This morning I rinsed them and tossed any questionable beans.
While the beans drained in a colander, I toasted cumin, smoked Spanish paprika and a few chili flakes for less than a minute. The smell was incredible.
Then I added the beans and water, bringing them to a boil.
Now they are simmering with the lid halfway over the pot, a compromise to covering or not covering the pot.
Wish me luck!
Lori Greer in Portland 
I’ll bet they’ll taste great!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you for the vote of confidence. I will let you know!
LikeLike
I’ll bet they’ll be great!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Sounds wonderful!
LikeLike
Thank you Jane! I hope you and your family are well.
LikeLike
Good luck! I really like black beans, but I will admit I rarely cook them. i take the cheap way out and buy the canned ones.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I do not like beans of any colour, just saying
LikeLiked by 1 person
Ah dear lady, I can always remember whipping up a dessert…and failing time after time. So in frustration I went to the place they made them beautifully and asked very nicely of the maker what was I doing wrong. And he told me something so simple I would never have even given it a glance…to which is why it ever failed. Meet your bean maker and ask nicely of his masterpiece, you never know of the secrets they may tell…and now the delights of every black bean feast of the future 🤣❤️🙏🏽
LikeLiked by 1 person
I can imagine the smell of the spices! Mmm.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I wish you well. I have never seen a black bean but will search them out. I have seen black bean soup. You have sparked my interest. I love eating crunchy fresh green beans. Have a great day!
LikeLiked by 1 person
That sounds delicious, Lori. Thanks for the idea. I have black beans in the pantry and just haven’t done anything with them. I’m going to make an effort to do them, especially with those spices which are some of my favourite flavours.
LikeLiked by 1 person