From the recipe box
Black Bean Bowl
Thai and Southeast Asian plates, grain bowls, and cross-cultural recipes from the wider kitchen.
- Protein
- Black beans
- Meal format
- Global Food & Fusion
- Base
- Rice, Millets, Grains
Black Beans, Lettuce or Mixed Greens, Tomato, Onion, Corn, Avocado, Bell Pepper, Cucumber, Jalapeño, Red Cabbage, Cilantro
From my kitchenCook this meal
Ingredients & method
- Prep
- 30 mins
- Cook
- 52 mins
- Total
- 82 mins
- Serves
- 4
Black Beans
- 1 cupdry black beans (or two 15 oz cans, drained and rinsed)
- as neededWater
- to tasteSalt
- 1 teaspooncumin powder
- ½ teaspoonchili powder
- ½ teaspoongarlic powder
Salad Base
- 4 cupschopped romaine or mixed lettuce
Pico de Gallo
- 2medium tomatoes, diced
- ½medium red onion, finely diced
- ¼ cupchopped cilantro
- —Juice of 1 lime
- to tasteSalt
Cilantro Lime Dressing
- ½ cupmayonnaise
- ½ cuppacked cilantro
- —Juice of 1 lime
- 1small garlic clove
- 2–3 tablespoonswater (to thin)
- to tasteSalt and pepper
Optional Corn Salad
- 1 cupcorn (fresh, frozen, or canned)
- 2 tablespoonsfinely diced red onion
- 1 tablespoonchopped cilantro
- —Juice of ½ lime
- —Salt and pepper
Optional Guacamole
- 2ripe avocados
- —Juice of ½ lime
- —Salt
- —Optional diced onion, tomato, cilantro, or jalapeño
Optional Grain
- 2 cupscooked rice
- —or
- 2 cupscooked quinoa
Notes & Tips
- What gives this any bowl the satiating taste is juiciness. Add the dressings of your choice but don’t be afraid to make it juicy!
- Don't feel like every bowl needs every component. Even just lettuce, black beans, pico de gallo, and the cilantro lime dressing make an incredibly satisfying meal.
- The cilantro lime dressing doubles as a great sandwich spread, wrap sauce, taco topping, or salad dressing.
- Rice, quinoa, or even roasted sweet potatoes make excellent bases depending on what you're craving.
- This bowl is a great place to use leftover vegetables. Roasted bell peppers, zucchini, cauliflower, broccoli, mushrooms, or sautéed onions all fit in naturally.
- For extra crunch, finish with tortilla strips, pepitas, roasted chickpeas, or crushed tortilla chips just before serving.
Step by step
Method
- 01
Prepare the Black Beans
- 02
If using dry beans, wash and soak them overnight (8+ hours). Drain and discard the soaking water.
- 03
Pressure cook the beans with fresh water and salt until tender.
- 04
Instant Pot: Pressure Cook on High for about 25–30 minutes, followed by natural pressure release.
- 05
Drain any excess liquid if needed and season with cumin, chili powder, garlic powder (if using), and additional salt to taste.
- 06
Shortcut: Canned black beans work perfectly too. Simply drain, rinse, and warm them with the seasonings.
- 07
Prepare the Pico de Gallo
- 08
Combine tomatoes, onion, cilantro, lime juice, and salt.
- 09
Mix well and allow it to sit for 10–15 minutes so the flavors develop.
- 10
Prepare the Cilantro Lime Dressing
- 11
Add mayonnaise, cilantro, lime juice, garlic, salt, pepper, and a little water to a blender.
- 12
Blend until smooth.
- 13
Add more water as needed until the dressing reaches your desired consistency.
- 14
Prepare the Corn Salad (Optional)
- 15
Combine corn, onion, cilantro, lime juice, salt, and pepper.
- 16
Toss well and chill until ready to use.
- 17
Prepare the Guacamole (Optional)
- 18
Mash the avocados.
- 19
Mix with lime juice and salt.
- 20
Add diced onion, tomato, cilantro, or jalapeño if desired.
- 21
Prepare the Grain (Optional)
- 22
Cook rice or quinoa according to package directions.
- 23
Allow it to cool slightly before assembling the bowls.
- 24
Assemble the Bowl
- 25
Start with a layer of lettuce or mixed greens.
- 26
Add rice or quinoa if using.
- 27
Add the seasoned black beans.
- 28
Spoon over the pico de gallo.
- 29
Add the corn salad and guacamole if using.
- 30
Finish with the cilantro lime dressing or any salsa of your choice
- 31
Top with any additional toppings such as pickled onions, tortilla strips, pepitas, cheese, hot sauce, or extra cilantro.
- 32
This Black Bean Bowl is one of those meals that is easy to meal prep because every component can be made ahead of time and mixed and matched throughout the week. It's filling, protein-packed, colorful, and endlessly customizable depending on what you have in the refrigerator.
