Soooo I had the best meal of my life on Saturday.
I’m not even joking — and it had absolutely nothing to do with the fact that I ran 13.1 miles that morning, walked around Disney all day, and was absolutely famished when I sat down for my 4 p.m. dinner with all the senior citizens in a 50 mile radius of Orlando, Florida. Don’t judge me — if you’d been up since 2:30 in the morning, dinner would have been at 4:00 for you as well.
In all seriousness though, I couldn’t get over how delicious my food was on Saturday evening afternoon. My mom and I went to a Cuban restaurant in Downtown Disney after we scoped out their menu the night before. They had a vegetarian platter, served with vegetables, white rice, and plantains. If I hadn’t been meeting others for dinner that night, I would have probably eaten there two nights in a row. When we got the restaurant the next day, I knew exactly what I was ordering — read: the only thing I could order on the menu. Then, on a whim, I added a side of black beans. Because let’s be real — I was hungry. And Cuban black beans are the best.
Most of the time I don’t salt my food. I rarely add salt when I’m cooking. I like salty things, but I have to be in the mood for it. Aaaand I’m usually in the mood for salty food when I eat nuts like ten times a day or shake the last few cracker crumbs from a bag into my mouth, attempting not to get any on the floor (I usually fail at that).
But let’s be real here — I could live off the saltiness that is Cuban black beans. I’m pretty sure I drank the juice off the bottom of the bowl from my beans and my mom’s beans. I did use a spoon though people — I am quite a classy lady.
When I got home on Sunday, all I could think about were those Cuban black beans. Perfectly spiced, sitting in a bed of salty black bean juice.. oh. my. gosh. I could not get them off my mind. You can imagine my excitement when I found I had a can of black beans in my pantry. Then I looked online and realized Cuban black beans are made with a pound of dry beans. Um, not my kind.
These are quick, fast, and insanely delicious. Oh, and salty.
15 Minute Cuban Black Beans
Serves: 2-3
Difficulty: Easy
Prep Time: ~ 5 minutes
Cook Time: 10-15 minutes
- 1-15 oz. can black beans, liquids reserved
- 1/2 cup water
- 1 tbsp. olive oil
- 1/2 onion, diced
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 2 oz. canned green chili peppers (half of a small container)
- 1/2 tsp. cumin
- 1/4 tsp. chili powder
- pinch of red pepper flakes or cayenne pepper
- pepper and salt to taste
Instructions: In a small saucepan, heat the tablespoon of olive oil on medium high heat. While oil is warming, dice your onion and mince the two cloves of garlic. Add your onion and garlic to the saucepan and stir frequently for ~3-4 minutes until translucent and tender. Add black beans (liquid and all!), water, chili peppers, and spices. Lower heat and simmer for at least ten minutes. Serve with short grain brown rice.
I haven’t commanded you to make anything for quite a while — but I am commanding you. Make this. Now. You’ll thank me later.
In the back of my mind, I’m hoping you’ll thank me with peanut butter. But that’s just me.
{ 35 comments… read them below or add one }
Drinking black bean juice I can do…when people start drinking the juice from tuna cans, that’s when the gag reflex starts! I love the sound of this and am going to try making it with kidney beans (no black beans at home)!
I LOOOOOVE homemade black beans! They are always so flavorful and delicious! Can’t wait to try your version!
yum! This looks so good! I will be buying black beans anddd making this!
I LOVE BLACK BEANS! And I’m loving this short recipe!
This looks really good and simple. But, what makes it even better is that I have all of the ingredients in my pantry. I’ll be making it this weekend!
I love all things black bean - burgers, soups, etc. But a really dish of cuban black beans definitely wins out! Thanks for recreating them.
I love how easy this is to make after a long day at work!!
I too am a fan. Beans, so easy, yet so good.
I do have to agree that it looks pretty darn amazing! What a meal! I bet after that run it did tast even that much more amazing!
HAPPY THRUSDAY!
mmm! this looks delicious! you always make food look delicious! dinner tables across the world are better places, because of you! x
I’ve never had Cuban black beans but Mexican black bean soup is one of my all time favorite foods! Topped with cheese or greek yogurt… foodgasim big time.
I love cuban food, and spicy black beans! These look delicious!
Oh yum, I love Cuban black beans! Thanks for the recipe!
I can’t say that I really know the difference between a Cuban black bean dish and a regular black bean dish. Is it just the saltiness? Spices?
i LOVE cuban black beans. and basically salt in general. my doctor yesterday actually told me to ADD salt to my diet. this recipe is perfect!
Quick easy and tasty are right up my alley right now. Looks great!
YES. This is bringing back memories of a childhood spent growing up in Miami
Sad thing is, there are a lot of old people in Florida. I need to get out of here haha. I looooooove black beans! These look deelish.
I make crockpot Cuban black beans/frijoles that are amazing.
I love black beans, this looks delicious! This would be one of those dishes my boyfriend would just look at me with disgust as I ate it! He hates beans!
I LOVE cuban bean dishes but never make them. No idea why. This must change.
This is a great recipe! Quick and simple
Oh yummmm, I love black beans! Mexican is my top favorite cuisine
But I have yet to try plaintains…that must change.
I love black beans! They’ve got to be my fave bean out there!
Cuban black beans sound delicious, although I absolutely hate salt. I usually adapt any recipe I make leaving out any salt, because some recipes are just too yummy not to make.
You are the opposite of me: loving salt, onions, and garlic. These look great for those who love dark things like this.
My dark thing is more along the chocolate lines
Ooh, what a great quick meal idea! I usually have all of the ingredients on-hand. I’ll have to remember that on one of those we’re-exhausted-and-need-to-cook-something-tasty evenings.
I love Cuban black beans over brown rice (which I usually have in the freezer, since I make it in batches).
Oh these look delicious! Yes, the best beans I ever had in my life were in Cuba. So good and so yummy. Thanks for the recipe, I bet they taste just like the real thing!
Peanut butter = more salty deliciousness
Cuban black beans sound like something I would go back for two nights in a row, too!! I just enjoyed a curried red lentil soup, but I have a feel the next soup will involve some lovely blakc beeeeans!
Mmmm…I’m in LOVE with black beans. This recipe sounds so amazing.
I usually feel like soups are too salty (especially when they’re store-bought) but, when it comes to beans, it’s a whole different story! And when it comes to nuts…salted nuts are my weakness. <3
What a great dish! I love black beans. And I am in love with that bowl!! Adorable!
That looks so good! Wow, I wouldn’t have thought there’d be a cuban restaurant in Disney World.
I’ve had an incredible bean craving lately. Perfect timing!
I will obey. Chocolate might not do well in the mail though as a thank you. I will thank you with a Flat Kitty though.
He loves beans! 
seriously, I want to send you one! He he!
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