Guatemalan Black Beans

Dive into a big bowl of delicious vegan Guatemalan black beans! This made-from-scratch dish is full of irresistible flavor and healthy nutrients. Perfect to eat alone or for any recipe that calls for black beans, these are so easy to make and need just a few simple ingredients.

This tasty black beans recipe is a very popular dish in Guatemala. These beans can be eaten in many different ways. You can eat these simple, yet amazing black beans as a side dish or a full meal. This is great to serve over rice or use for other recipes that call for black beans. They are perfect in a breakfast burrito, for a filling lunch, or a nutritious dinner.

Meal Ideas for Black Beans

Guatemalan-style black beans are just the complement for many types of dishes! Here are a few ideas…

• In cold bean salads
• As the main course or a side
• Over rice or corn in a burrito bowl
• With sautéed potatoes as breakfast
• In a tortilla with veggies, as a taco or burrito 
• Refried with non dairy milk, as a dip or a tostada topping

It’s such a bonus that black beans, which are also called turtle beans, are loaded with vitamins and nutrients. They are high in vitamin C, fiber, protein, and antioxidants. I find that they are a scrumptious must for my vegan diet. In addition to being vegan, these black beans are naturally gluten-free and oil-free!

Reasons You’ll Love this Recipe

• Easy to make
• Very hearty and filling
• Can be used in a variety of meals
• Naturally vegan, gluten-free, and oil-free
• Black beans are full of nutritious benefits

Ingredient Notes

Beans – A one-pound bag of dry, uncooked black beans is the star of this recipe. Although they take longer to prepare than canned beans, the process is almost effortless and so worth it. 

Onion – I like to use a white onion, but you can certainly use another type of onion such as yellow, red, or sweet. 

Garlic – Just a couple of large minced garlic cloves offer a delicious aromatic flavor. 

Seasoning – Three simple spices help take this meal over the top. All you need is salt, pepper, and ground cumin. You can add in any other favorite spices of yours as well.

Water – These beans really only need water to cook in, but you can definitely use vegetable broth if you want! Just note that broth will add to the sodium count here.

How to Make Guatemalan Black Beans

Soak the Beans – Sort through the dry black beans to discard any that are heavily discolored and any pebbles. Rinse them thoroughly and then place them in a large bowl. Fill the bowl with water until the water line is about 2-3 inches above the beans. Let them soak overnight or for at least 8 hours. 

Boil Beans – After the beans have soaked, drain the water, and rinse them. Pour them into a large pot and fill it with 8 cups of water. Bring the water and beans to a boil over high heat. Let them boil for about 1 minute and then lower the temperature to medium. Stir the beans, cover the pot, and simmer for 1 hour.

Make the Seasoning – Prepare the seasoning after the beans have cooked for about 50 minutes. Dice the onion and mince the garlic. Bring a small nonstick saucepan to medium heat. Add the diced onions to the pan and sauté them for about 3 minutes or until they’re slightly translucent. You don’t need to use water or oil because the fresh onions provide enough moisture. Next, add the minced garlic, salt, pepper, and cumin. Sauté all of this for 2 more minutes.

Cook Until Tender – Stir the seasoned mixture you just made into the pot of beans and then cover the pot back up. Cook the beans for another 20-40 minutes. Then, check their tenderness. The cook time for beans can vary based on the age, freshness, and soak time of the beans. Cook them until they are softened, but not mushy. If they are easy to bite through, then they are done. Generally, beans should be ready in less than 2 hours.

Enjoy! – Enjoy the beans right away, save them for later, or add them to another dish. You may want to add more seasoning according to your preference and then garnish them with toppings such as cilantro, vegan sour cream, jalapeños, and a squeeze of lime.

Notes and Variation Ideas

• If needed, add a little bit more water to the pot of beans throughout the cooking process. You want the water level to remain slightly above the bean line. 
• Use any type of onion you have on hand. 
• Add any other favorite seasonings you like such as parsley, sage, cayenne, etc. 
• Garnish with toppings of your choice such as vegan cheese and fresh herbs.

I hope you loved these Guatemalan Black Beans! Please leave a star rating and comment below.