Tag: black beans

Southwest Black Bean Burger

spicy black bean burger

Southwest Black Bean Burger

  • Servings: 4-6
  • Difficulty: Easy
  • Print

I am in no way a Vegetarian and don’t do vegetarian dishes all that often…. maybe one or two a year, however this is a recipe I have wanted to try for some time.

Now the last time I had a Black Bean Burger it was in a local restaurant and it was just awful…… it took me hours to get the taste of Cumin out of my mouth. I mean there was so much of it in the burger that  I could not taste anything else and it was horrid.

So now here is my interpretation of a black bean burger.

Cook’s note: The Ancho chili powder makes this one a little bit spicy so feel free to adjust the amount.

Here’s how we do this one.

Shopping list:

  • 1 medium Green Pepper rough chopped
  • 1 Sweet Onion rough chopped
  • 1 cup Breadcrumbs
  • 2 15 ounce cans of Black Beans – rinsed and set aside in separate bowls
  • 1 1/2 Teaspoons Seasoned Salt
  • 1 1/2 Teaspoons Black Pepper
  • 1 Teaspoon Coriander
  • 2 Teaspoons Granulated Garlic
  • 2 Tablespoons Smoked Paprika
  • 1 1/2 Tablespoons Ancho Chili Powder

Putting it all together:

  1. Place all ingredients except one bowl of black beans in a food processor.
  2. Pulse the ingredients until a paste has formed.
  3. Place the paste in a large mixing bowl and add the remaining beans and the breadcrumbs. Mix well.
  4. Cover and place in the fridge for 40 minutes.
  5. Remove from fridge and form into 5 ounce patties.
  6. Pan fry or grill for 8 mins. per side.
  7. Enjoy

There you have it another “Simple but tasty recipe for the grilling season and beyond.”

Until next time……..

                                  Bon Appetit

Advertisement

Mexican Chopped Salad

Chopped Mexican Salad

Mexican Chopped Salad

  • Servings: 4 - 6
  • Difficulty: Easy
  • Print

Staying with the Healthy Eating aspect of my new fitness regime I’m sharing a modified Mexican Chopped Salad that I borrowed from Rachael Ray.

Now this one is modified because there are ingredients she has in hers (Jicama) that I don’t have and I’m using a couple of things she doesn’t (Turnip and Radishes). Also her particular recipe calls for a vinaigrette while mine has no dressing at all.

Thank you Chef for a great salad idea.

Here’s how we do this one.

Shopping list:

  • 1 1/2 heads Romaine lettuce – rough chopped
  • 1 head Kale – rough chopped
  • 1 medium Turnip – cut into matchsticks
  • 6 – 8 Radishes – quartered
  • 3 Roma tomatoes – diced
  • 1 medium Green Pepper – diced
  • 1/2 large Red Onion – diced
  • 1 handful Cilantro – chopped
  • 1 8 ounce tin Corn kernels
  • 1 9 ounce can Black Beans – drained and rinsed
  • Salt and Pepper to taste
  • Juice of 1 Lime
  • Feta cheese for topping

Putting it all together:

  1. In a large bowl toss all ingredients except the Feta and Lime juice.
  2. Squeeze the lime juice over the salad and top with the Feta cheese.
  3. Enjoy.

There you have it another “simple but tasty recipe for the grilling season and beyond.”

Until next time………

                           Bon Appetit

 

Stuffed Poblanos

20170506_200645 (2)

Stuffed Poblanos

  • Servings: 4
  • Difficulty: easy
  • Print

“Ask not what you can do for your country. Ask what’s for lunch.”
Orson Welles

 

I’m not a fan of traditional Stuffed Peppers mainly because the ones I’ve had usually contain too much tomato sauce and therefore I wind up with major indigestion due to the acid content in the dish. That being said I have to admit that I have always wanted to try my hand at making them just to see what the end result would be however, being who I am I of course have to add a little spin to the dish. I will also point out that this is not an original dish but I have added enough changes to make it my own.

Cooks note: I used Poblanos because they have a medium heat level without being to heavy handed but feel free to substitute whatever kind of pepper you wish keeping in mind that whatever pepper you use it should be as round as possible for ease of stuffing.

Here’s how we do this one.

Shopping list:

  • 4 large Poblano peppers – halved (cut north to south) and seeded
  • 1 1/2 pounds ground Pork
  • 1 10 ounce can of Black Beans
  • 3 tablespoons Canola Oil
  • 1 8 ounce can Niblets corn
  • 3/4 cup Cream Cheese
  • 3 cups shredded Mexican Cheese
  • 2  tablespoons Granulated Garlic
  • 2 1/2 tablespoons of Granulated Onion
  • 1 1/2 teaspoons Chili powder
  • 2 tablespoons Chipotle Powder
  • 1 teaspoon ground Cumin
  • 2 tablespoons dried Parsley
  • 2 tablespoons fresh ground Black Pepper
  • pinch of Salt
  • Fresh Parsley for garnish (cilantro can be a substitute)
  • Sour cream for garnish

Putting it all together:

  1. In a large non reactive bowl combine the pork, dry spices, black beans and corn. Cover and set aside for an hour to allow the flavours to develop.
  2. Preheat the oven to 375°.
  3. Heat the oil in a large sauce pan, add the pork mixture and cook until the pork is just done . Add the cream cheese and continue cooking until the cheese is nice and smooth. Pull from the heat and set aside to cool.
  4. Evenly fill the poblano halves with the pork mixture . Put in the oven until the poblanos have softened, about 30 minutes. Top with the shredded cheese and put back in the oven until melted and bubbling.
  5. Plate and garnish with the parsley and sour cream.

There you have it another “simple but tasty recipe for the grilling season and beyond.”

Until next time……….

                          Bon Appetit

Baked Mexican Breakfast Bars

DSC01110 (1)

Baked Mexican Breakfast Bars

  • Servings: 10-12
  • Difficulty: easy
  • Print

What nicer thing can you do for somebody than make them breakfast?

Anthony Bourdain

While breakfast is said to be the most important meal of the day it can also be the most challenging one to make. I mean how many times can you have bacon and eggs or pancakes with bacon or French toast with bacon before you get tired of it and want something completely different?—- okay let’s be serious…. NO ONE ever gets tired of bacon but you get my drift.

This was the conundrum I found myself in this morning and as I remembered reading about this kind of dish recently I set out to make it and of course put my own spin on it.

These are also great to freeze and use on days when you are in a hurry because you can just heat and run.

Here’s how we do this one.

Shopping list:

  • 3 cups diced Ham
  • 1 medium white Onion – diced
  • 1 cup chopped Asparagus spears
  • 1 8 ounce can Corn kernals – drained
  • 1 8 ounce can Black beans – drained and rinsed
  • 10 large Eggs 
  • 1 1/2 tablespoons granulated Garlic
  • 2 tablespoons Chipotle powder
  • Salt and Pepper to taste
  • 2 tablespoons dried Parsley
  • Salsa – (optional)
  • 1 9 x 12 x 1/12 Mini loaf pan

Putting it all together:

  1. Pre-heat the oven to 375°. While the oven is heating mix the eggs in a 4 cup measuring cup and set aside.
  2. In a large non reactive bowl mix all the remaining ingredients.
  3. Spray the loaf pan with a non stick spray, spoon the ham and veggie mix equally into the mini loaf pan.
  4. Pour enough eggs into each slot to just cover the mix and bake in the oven for 20 minutes.
  5. Remove from the oven and serve with salsa if using.

There you have it “another simple but tasty recipe for the grilling season and beyond.”

Until next time………..

                            Bon Appetit

 

Chicken and Tomato casserole

dsc01050

Chicken and Tomato casserole

  • Servings: 6-8
  • Difficulty: easy
  • Print

This recipe comes from my Diabetes cookbook and with some embellishments from me (because I can’t help myself) it turned out to be one of the best, and healthiest,  casseroles I think I have ever made. I will most certainly be making this one again.

Here’s how we do this one.

Shopping list:

  • Eight bone in, skin on chicken thighs
  • One 10 ounce tin black beans
  • One 16 ounce tin diced tomatoes
  • Three tablespoons dried Oregano
  • Three tablespoons granulated Garlic
  • 1/2 cup sliced pimento stuffed olives
  • Two cups Long Grain Rice
  • Four tablespoons Canola oil
  • Chicken dry rub (see Dry Rubs and Marinades)
  • Parsley for garnish (optional)

Putting it all together:

  1. Pre heat your oven to 375 degrees
  2. Lightly season the chicken thighs with the dry rub
  3. In a large non reactive bowl mix together all the other ingredients and pour into a large casserole dish
  4. Heat the oil in a large saute pan and brown the chicken on both sides
  5. Place the chicken on top of the tomato mixture and put in the oven for approximately 35 minutes or until the chicken hits 165 degrees internal.
  6. Garnish with Parsley and serve.

There you have it another “simple but tasty recipe for the grilling season and beyond”

Until next time……………..

                       Bon Appetit