Black beans and rice

This goes really well with the Chicken Picadillo inside or outside the tortilla.

1. Bring 1 1/4 cups fat-free, less-sodium chicken broth to a boil in a medium saucepan.

2. Add 3/4 cup long-grain rice; cover, reduce heat, and simmer 18 minutes or until liquid is absorbed.

3. Stir in 1 cup rinsed and drained canned black beans and 1/4 cup chopped cilantro; cook until heated. Stir in 1/4 tsp salt.

Easy recipe: I just put 2 cups chicken broth in my rice cooker with 1 cup rice and let it cook. I added 1 can of black beans and the cilantro when the rice was done and let it sit in the rice cooker on warm for 5 or so minutes until it was thoroughly warmed. I turned out great!

Black Bean Veggie Burgers

I made these the other night. AWESOME!

Ingredients

• 1 (16 ounce) can black beans, drained and rinsed
• 1/2 green bell pepper, cut into 2 inch pieces
• 1/2 onion, cut into wedges
• 3 cloves garlic, peeled
• 1 egg
• 1 tablespoon chili powder
• 1 tablespoon cumin
• 1 teaspoon Thai chili sauce or hot sauce
• 1/2 cup bread crumbs

Directions

1. If grilling, preheat an outdoor grill for high heat, and lightly oil a sheet of aluminum foil. If baking, preheat oven to 375 degrees F (190 degrees C), and lightly oil a baking sheet.
2. In a medium bowl, mash black beans with a fork until thick and pasty.
3. In a food processor, finely chop bell pepper, onion, and garlic. Then stir into mashed beans.
4. In a small bowl, stir together egg, chili powder, cumin, and chili sauce.
5. Stir the egg mixture into the mashed beans. Mix in bread crumbs until the mixture is sticky and holds together. Divide mixture into four patties.
6. If grilling, place patties on foil, and grill about 8 minutes on each side. If baking, place patties on baking sheet, and bake about 10 minutes on each side.

Penne Pasta with Black Beans and Mango

My neighbor raved about this recipe. I haven't tried it yet, but she said to be sure to use fresh, not dried, basil.

1 14-oz can chopped tomatoes
1 sm. onion, chopped
3 cloves garlic, crushed
1 can black beans, drained and rinsed
2 T olive oil
4 oz penne pasta, al dente
1 mango, peeled and cubed
1/2 c fresh basil leaves, sliced
salt and freshly ground pepper, to taste.

Simmer tomatoes, onion, and garlic in a medium saucepan over medium heat for about 10 minutes. Add beans and oil and cook one additional minute. Place cooked pasta in a serving bowl and spoon bean sauce over top. At table, let everyone top with mango, basil, salt, pepper, to taste.