Black beans are rich sources of plant proteins. They are subsequently great for building the body besides providing it with minerals and iron. It is for these reasons that you want to know how to prepare them. This is to guarantee you a constant and reliable source of these nutrients continually.
For a start, the canned black beans come readily cooked. You, therefore, do not have to cook them for longer as is the case with the raw beans. In our subsequent discussions, we are going to examine how to prepare them. We are also going to look into what not to do with them.
You will need to acquire the right ingredients, tools-of-trade, and follow the correct procedures to accomplish this feat.
- Cooking oil
- 1 sliced onion
- Salt
- Pepper
- Pan or deep pot
- Canned black beans
- Ceramic knife
- Cooking stove
You will now have to follow these procedures:
Step I: Start off by peeling the onions. The ceramic knife will do this job pretty thoroughly. Slice the onions into the smallest cubes for the best results. If you have issues with the knife, you may consider using the vegetable chopper to do the job. This one is much safer and more reliable.
Step II: Though not necessary, you may have to wash the beans before cooking them. To do so, open the can that contains the beans. Pour the contents gently into a bowl of clean water. Leave untouched for around two minutes. You should thereafter wash the beans and rinse in a colander and with running water.
Step III: Turn on the cooking stove and set the cooking temperature to medium. Place the pot or the pan onto the burner of the stove. Next, pour some dab of oil and then slowly introduce the sliced onions into the oil. Leave the mixture to heat for some time until the onions turn brown in color.
Step IV: After the onion has turned brown, you now have to introduce some seasoning. The curry powder, coriander, and nutmeg are some of the condiments that may come in handy at such times. Do not forget to add salt as well at this stage. This is the best time to do so. If you skipped washing the canned beans, do not add the salt because they are already salted at the time they are canned.
Step V: Stir the ingredients thoroughly and leave them unattended for some time to cook thoroughly. Cover the ingredients to let them cook faster and prevent contaminants from getting into the cooking pot or the cooking pan. You may reduce the temperature of the stove to let the ingredients simmer thoroughly.
Step V: Now introduce the canned black beans. If you washed them, gently place them into the cooking pot. If you had not washed them in advance, you just have to open the can and empty its contents into the cooking pot. Either way, you have to stir the mixture thoroughly. You may wish to add some little water or other juicers at this stage as well. Seal the lid tightly.
Step VI: Leave the food to cook for around 4 to 8 minutes. Do not overcook as this might destroy the nutrients. Remember the canned beans are in fact already cooked, you do not have to cook them a second time.
Even though you have the leeway of cooking the beans without washing, you are by all means advised against it. This is because the liquid inside the can contains plenty of starch and is also very salty. Cooking the canned beans without first of all washing and rinsing may thus result in very salty outcomes.
As soon as you open the can, it loses the ability to preserve the freshness of the beans. This is why you have to dispose of it after you have opened it. Do not store the leftover beans in the can as they might not stay as fresh as they ought to.
Inasmuch as you are allowed to apply some seasoning to the black beans, you should exercise some restraint while doing so. Over-seasoning your black beans will render them inedible by reason of making them too ghastly to the taste. Only moderate spices may hence be used.
Never ever even contemplate cooking the canned beans inside the container that has them. This container is not safe at all. Its interior is not shielded and can, therefore, mix with the contents and contaminate them. This may bring about some health issues in the process. Moreover, the cans are not too thick as to allow for slow cooking.
If you mean to cook the canned beans, be sure to do exactly that. Never be tempted to acquire the ordinary beans and use the same techniques as those of the black beans to prepare them. You do not want to suffer from digestive issues. You also do not want to waste too much of your time and effort for nothing.
Now that you know how to cook canned black beans, why don’t you go ahead to do so? As you may well have noticed, the procedure is not too complicated. It is a do-it-yourself activity. You also would not want to enjoy the benefits of this information alone. This is why you badly want to share this information with others.
In closing, canned black beans are great delicacies indeed. You have to make a point of preparing them at least once in a lifetime. All the best as you contemplate taking the first major step to this effect!