Southwest Pantry: Black Bean Bounty and a Ten-Minute Black Bean Entree

Tortillas with Black Bean Puree

Black beans are so handy to have on hand in every Southwest pantry. We highly recommend that you stock up and use them regularly!

Lydia of The Perfect Pantry - a fabulous food blogger focusing on having a well-stocked pantry - recommends cooking dried black beans in your slow cooker (no pre-soaking required!) in water for 18 hours on low. Lydia then keeps her cooked beans in the fridge - such a great idea, and so handy for speedy dinners.

If you are in a more-than-usual near-crisis stage and need to get dinner on the table PRONTO, this Black Bean Puree Recipe can't be beat both time- and flavor-wise! This is a new twist on a plain burrito - so pretty, fun and different! It takes ten minutes max to get this on the table, and that includes opening the cans!

Black beans are nutitional powerhouses, high in protein and cancer-fighting substances and fiber, and so yummy and easy to work with.

Short of takeout, I challenge anyone to find a speedier healthy dinner!

TORTILLAS WITH BLACK BEAN PUREE

Prep and cook time: 10 minutes!

Serves 4.

2 cans (15 ounces each) black beans, drained
1 can (10 ounces) red enchilada sauce (medium or hot style)
½ cup salsa
1 teaspoon garlic powder
12 medium sized whole wheat tortillas
1 cup diced cilantro
½ red bell pepper, diced
4 ounces queso fresco

Place beans, enchilada sauce, salsa and garlic powder in a blender and blend until smooth. Microwave in a bowl until bubbling.

Heat a medium sized dry skillet to high heat. Cook tortillas in dry pan for a few seconds on each side, until lightly browned but not crisp. Fold each tortilla in half and then in half again and place three folded tortillas on a serving plate. Drizzle with black bean puree. Sprinkle with cilantro, bell pepper and cheese. Serve immediately.

Unique black bean recipes by other food bloggers:
Amazing Black Bean Brownies, 101 Cookbooks
Black Bean Gazpacho, The Perfect Pantry
Mexican Baked Eggs with Black Beans, Kalyns Kitchen
Black Bean Vegan Burgers, Just Hungry
Black Bean Soup with Smoked Sour Cream, Serious Eats
Black Beans Three Ways, Savour Fare
Pumpkin and Black Bean Casserole, Fat Free Vegan