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Close view of Guatemalan black beans.

Guatemalan Black Beans

These homemade Guatemalan black beans are so easy to make with just a few simple ingredients. Devour them as a nutritious meal alone, or add them to any recipe that needs black beans!
5 from 8 votes
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Bonnie - Serene Trail

Course: Main Course, Side Dish
Cuisine: Latin
Prep Time: 8 hours
Cook Time: 1 hour 30 minutes
Total Time: 9 hours 30 minutes
Servings: 12
Calories: 103kcal

Equipment

  • large bowl for soaking
  • colander
  • large pot with fitted lid
  • small nonstick sauté pan

Ingredients

  • 16 ounces dry black beans, (454g)
  • 8 cups water, (1.9L)
  • 1/2 of a white onion, diced
  • 2 large garlic cloves, minced
  • 2 teaspoons salt
  • 1 teaspoon pepper
  • 1 teaspoon ground cumin

Instructions

  • Look through and discard any heavily discolored beans or pebbles from the dry black beans. Rinse the beans, place them in a large bowl, and fill the bowl with water. The water line should be 2-3 inches above the beans. Soak the beans overnight or for at least 8 hours.
  • Drain the water from the soaked beans and rinse them again. Add them to a large pot along with 8 cups of water. Bring the beans to a boil over high heat. Let them boil for 1 minute and then lower the heat to medium. Stir the beans, cover the pot, and let them simmer for 1 hour.
  • Prepare the seasoning after the beans have cooked for 45 minutes. Heat a small, nonstick sauté pan over medium heat. Add the onions and sauté them for 3 minutes or until they soften. Add the garlic, salt, pepper, and cumin. Let this cook for 2 more minutes.
  • Stir the seasoned onion mixture into the beans and cover them back up. Cook them for about 20-40 more minutes, then check their tenderness. Cook them until they are softened, but not mushy. Generally, beans should be ready in less than 2 hours.
  • Enjoy them right away, save them for later, or add them to another dish. You may want to add more seasoning according to your preference and garnish them with toppings such as cilantro, jalapeños, and lime juice.

Video

Notes

  • 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. 
  • No water or oil is needed when sautéing the seasoning as the fresh onion provides plenty of moisture.
  • Use any type of onion you have on hand. 
  • Add any other favorite seasonings you like, such as parsley, oregano, sage, cayenne, etc. 
  • The cook time for beans can vary based on their age, freshness, and soak time.

Nutrition

Serving: 0.5cup | Calories: 103kcal | Carbohydrates: 19g | Protein: 8g | Fat: 0.5g | Saturated Fat: 0.2g | Sodium: 352mg | Potassium: 348mg | Fiber: 7g | Sugar: 0.2g | Calcium: 35mg | Iron: 2mg

The nutritional information provided is an estimate from third-party calculations.

Did you make this recipe?I'd love to hear what you think! Drop a comment below or share it on Instagram and tag me @serene.trail.