Never has a girl been so excited about a tin of black beans...

While I was having my weekly perusal around my local independant organic vegan sugar free fairtrade co-operative supermarket this week (doesn't every neighbourhood have one?) I noticed a HUGE display of all kinds of dried chilies (like 10 different kinds, ancho, chipotle etc) and tins of organic black beans...I was so excited! The girl in ths shop told me that an American customer had been campaigning to get them in, and now they have them. Happiness for 69p a tin, so I bought two.

The only thing is, I really have no idea what to do with them now. So go on, give me some ideas!!!

Our Sainsbury's and Tesco both carry tinned black beans in the organic/"free from" section - although Sainsbury's hasn't restocked the shelf after we bought out their stock a few weeks back, so I don't know what's going on there.  My favorite thing to make with black beans is soup, of course - but I've also really been digging black bean and cheese quesadillas lately.

Black beans, chopped tomatoes, onions, garlic, fresh cilantro, corn, the juice of a lime (or lemon if you're like my husband and don't like lime so much) and a jar of salsa (make your own if you have the Rotel).  Add some salt and black pepper to taste. Heat it through.  It's great on brown rice.

My in-laws actually like it, so that sort of tells you something (they aren't exactly members of the adventurous eating club).

Black beans, chopped tomatoes, onions, garlic, fresh cilantro, corn, the juice of a lime (or lemon if you're like my husband and don't like lime so much) and a jar of salsa (make your own if you have the Rotel).  Add some salt and black pepper to taste. Heat it through.  It's great on brown rice.

My in-laws actually like it, so that sort of tells you something (they aren't exactly members of the adventurous eating club).

Not food related, but last week your last fm playlist made me dig out my Olivia Tremor Control album and listen to Jumping Fences over and over and over and over again.

Not food related, but last week your last fm playlist made me dig out my Olivia Tremor Control album and listen to Jumping Fences over and over and over and over again.

I love E6 bands.  No matter how much time goes by, they never seem old to me.

I am very much a Neutral Milk Hotel fangirl.

A salad I invented one day in Maryland when it was too hot to cook: black beans, corn (frozen is fine), bell pepper, green onions, and tomatoes, with a dressing of salsa, sour cream, lime juice, and cumin.

Our Sainsbury's and Tesco both carry tinned black beans in the organic/"free from" section - although Sainsbury's hasn't restocked the shelf after we bought out their stock a few weeks back, so I don't know what's going on there.  My favorite thing to make with black beans is soup, of course - but I've also really been digging black bean and cheese quesadillas lately.

I've checked both of these in my area, and haven't found any. I did find a bag of dried beans once, but that's a bit of work to go through for something DH probably won't like. I have noticed some of the tins of "mixed beans" have black beans in them, but that's all I've managed to find in a tin.
Nigella has a great recipe for Chorizo and Black Bean Soup! (Well, it looks great, but I haven't been able to try it yet!) Someone posted it to their blog here:

http://cookbookqueen.blogspot.com/2007/09/cuban-cure-black-bean-soup.html

You could mash them to make refried black beans to serve with a Mexican dish or as a dip for chips, adding garlic and other seasonings as desired. Or toss them in with salsa and sweetcorn for a bean salad or a dip for chips. You should also be able to find some good recipes for black bean burgers online... I've made them once a long time ago, but can't remember the details. Anyway, those are always great! You can add them to chili con carne, toss them in with a garden salad, make black bean, spinach, and sweetcorn enchiladas, or any number of other stuff! I'm sooooooo jealous you found some! Why doesn't our tiny village have a local independant organic vegan sugar free fairtrade co-operative supermarket? 

I know, I was shocked!  Usually when I moan about not being able to find something, everyone says whatever it is is readily available at their local store, and I'm the one whose lame grocery store doesn't carry it, so I was really amazed this time!

When things get less insane around here (after the kids go back to school in September, maybe?) and we have a chance to meet up, I'll totally bring you some cans of black beans.

I know, I was shocked!  Usually when I moan about not being able to find something, everyone says whatever it is is readily available at their local store, and I'm the one whose lame grocery store doesn't carry it, so I was really amazed this time!

When things get less insane around here (after the kids go back to school in September, maybe?) and we have a chance to meet up, I'll totally bring you some cans of black beans.

You ROCK!!!!!!!      That would be seriously cool! 

black bean dip (hummus)?

about the same as regular hummus with a few seasoning differences, lots of garlic, instead of lemon juice use lime, a bit of olive oil, a bit of tahini(might only find at an ethnic market or health food store), cumin, coriander.

Good with tortilla chips or on a sandwich as a spread instead of mayo or mustard.

Yum!

I've done this soup recipe from Rachael Ray

http://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/rachael-ray/pumpkin-and-black-bean-soup-recipe/index.html

Shopping online at Waitrose for grocery home delivery, I discovered black beans! Thought I'd share the knowledge. My Sainsbury's online shopping for home delivery also seems to have them intermittently, despite the fact that I've never or rarely seen them in the local stores here (Berkshire). If you're looking for something you can't find, you might want to check the home delivery option just in case!

If only someone could find some yellow rice! I'm really craving black beans and yellow rice lately, it's been years. I know that you can probably make it from scratch but I'm craving the crappy kind with MSG.