Let’s Talk About Beans

One of the easiest ways to get Back to the Basics of Nutrition is to eat Real Whole Foods. Dried beans, full of fiber and protein, are the perfect way to start. They are simple to cook, inexpensive, and can be used to create so many delicious meals. Plus, they are packed with added health benefits like helping to regulate blood sugar levels, reducing triglyceride & cholesterol levels, and even help you feel full!

To cook dried beans used to require a lot of preplanning and at least 8 hours of soaking. So the night before, you would have to remember to soak your beans or else you ended up changing your menu or stopping at the store for canned beans.

Then along came the Instant Pot! There is nothing quite like it. It does seem like people either love it or hate it. I happen to LOVE mine (oh, I should premise that I am not being paid in any way to say this). My Instant Pot is used almost everyday. So much so that I actually have all 3 sizes. Occasionally there will be 2 going at the same time depending on what I am creating in my kitchen…

For this Dried Organic Black Bean Recipe you only need one Instant Pot ~ the 6 quart size. It requires only 1 cup of dried organic black beans (I found a local source for these and am happy to share if you are interested), spring water, garlic, dried onion flakes, and spices. There is no soaking required and the beans are ready to eat in less than an hour.

So while you do the dishes, prep the vegetables for taco salad, or cook your protein, the Instant Pot will be working away cooking your beans perfectly without any effort of your own. The cooking time for these black beans is only 40 minutes with an additional 10 minutes of natural release at the end.

It’s almost magical how 1 cup of dried black beans goes into the Instant Pot and turns into all kinds of inspiration for different family meals. You can use these beans to make the best BBQ Black Bean Salad, for a quick chili, and in burritos. Another one of my favorite ways to use up the extra black beans is to make Black Bean Burgers (which you can freeze and enjoy later for a quick weeknight meal). They can also be smashed with a potato masher or in a food processor, with a little of the left over bean liquid, to make Refried Black Beans. Then use the black refried beans to make bean and cheese burritos or an amazing 7 layer bean dip. I promise they won’t go to waste!

One of the best things about making your own Black Beans in the Instant Pot is that you can season them to your liking. You really can’t mess these up! Add your favorite spices and herbs to create the flavor you like and get the added benefits of the spices all at the same time.

One word of caution: Don’t add any salt to the Instant Pot before cooking the beans. Salted dried beans simply won’t cook no matter how long you cook them at high pressure. So make sure to only add the beans, water, and spices for cooking. Then once the cooking is done and you have allowed the Instant Pot to naturally release for 10 minutes, you can add salt, broth for flavoring, and even splash of vinegar. I have found that very little salt is needed because you are always mixing these beans with other foods and flavors.

Also, be sure to check out my Organic Pinto Bean Recipe that can be used to make soup, rice bowls, refried beans, and more. Looking for a great Organic Source for Dried Beans??? You can find a great selection of organic beans grown right here in Idaho at 1000 Springs Mill. FYI: I am not being paid to say this…I just love their products!

Below you will find my favorite way to cook Black Beans in the Instant Pot. It is super simple and I encourage you to use this recipe as inspiration to create your own! Just make sure that none of the spices you add for cooking have salt (as your beans won’t cook).

Remember to be creative with your food. It doesn’t have to be complicated and there is inspiration all around you. If you haven’t tried making beans in your Instant Pot, what are you waiting for?

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