Cuban Black Beans with Cilantro and Lime Recipe | Little Spice Jar (2024)

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Cuban Black Beans with Cilantro and Lime Ingredients Instructions Notes Have you made this recipe? IS THIS A GOOD CHOICE FOR YOU? Leave a Reply 21 comments on “Cuban Black Beans with Cilantro and Lime” FAQs References

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A quick and easy version of the Cuban black beans! I’msautéing upjalapeños, onions, and garlic and then simmering the beans until they are tender and topping them with cilantro and lime! So, so delicious!

Cuban Black Beans with Cilantro and Lime Recipe | Little Spice Jar (1)And so returns the Little Spice Jar black bean obsession of 2014.

Only this time we’re making cuban black beans that are the cheater version to the low and slow cooked traditional cuban beans. And then i’m spicing them up with a little cilantro and lime because that’s how we do. ????

But first, HELLO! ???? It’s been a while, hasn’t it? I mean, I’ve been gone a week but it totally feels like it was kinda sorta forever. The truth is that sometimes there are just too many recipe fails in the kitchen in a week and i’m left with a flour explosion, dirty dishes, camera equipment every.where. and nothing to show at the end of it. Times like these really call for some recalibration, inner peace, and donuts. And after eating (and feeling) all the feels, one must get back on that bike, motivate oneself, and surround themselves with positive energy. Thank you for sticking around through the havoc and thank you for being the reason I get back in that kitchen. I’m back and i’ve got some delicious things to show.

Cuban Black Beans with Cilantro and Lime Recipe | Little Spice Jar (2)Shredded Cuban beef (coming soon!) and black beans are an ALL DAY EVERY DAY kinda meal around here. Includingdinners and some components may or may not have been consumed for breakfast as well. Cuban black beans that are simmered with aromatics like onions and garlic but spiced up with a little cilantro, cumin, and a hint of chipotle chili powder. Of course not all of these ingredients are used in traditional cuban black beans, but hey, we’re all about that fusion and stuff that tastes good, trust me, you will not be mad at ’em.

So here’s the realdoozy here, i’ve only ever had truly authentic cuban style black beans once. ? And that too was years and years ago in college (let’s not really count how many years that was) when this little old blog wasn’t even an idea nor was I even that serious about food. UM. WHAT? Yes. There was such a time, a horrible, terrible, time. I was visiting a friend in up in Austin who suggested a cute little cuban joint for dinner and there they were on the menu. Black beans that were slow simmered with spices and served with white rice and spicy shrimp. Now obviously traditional style cuban black beans don’t have cilantro and lime so they’re a little more neutral in terms of flavor but man were they comforting.

Cuban Black Beans with Cilantro and Lime Recipe | Little Spice Jar (3)Instead of going the more traditional route where you soak the beans overnight and then slow simmer them with peppers, bay leaves, and whole spices, i’m doing my 30 minute version that’s just as delicious, albeit not very traditional.

A tablespoon of oil and lots of chopped onion, jalapeños, and garlic is where this begins. I let the onions sweat until they get nice and translucent before adding in the garlic, followed by drained and rinsed black beans. The recipe provided uses 2 cans which makes a whole lot of beans. When i’m cooking for just the two of us I typically halve the recipe as this recipe will serve 8-10 people. I’ve tried mashing up some of the black beans to give it a thicker texture and adding extra lime juice. You really can’t go wrong!

We’re kinda obsessed with this recipe at the moment and for a quick and easy vegetarian dinner all you really need is a little white rice with thesecuban style black beans.

MAKE THEM. You’ll love ’em!

Cuban Black Beans with Cilantro and Lime Recipe | Little Spice Jar (4)

Yield: 8-10 servings

Cuban Black Beans with Cilantro and Lime

Prep Time5 minutes

Cook Time25 minutes

Total Time30 minutes

A quick and easy version of the Cuban Black beans! I'm sautéing up jalapeños, onions, and garlic and then simmering the beans until they are tender and topping them with cilantro and lime! So, so delicious!

Cuban Black Beans with Cilantro and Lime Recipe | Little Spice Jar (5)

Ingredients

  • 1 tablespoon oil
  • 1 medium red onion, diced
  • 1-2 jalapeños, seeded + ribs removed then diced
  • 4-5 cloves garlic, minced
  • 2 (15 ounce cans) black beans, rinsed and drained
  • 1 cup warm water
  • 1 teaspoon salt
  • 1 teaspoon ground cumin
  • ½-1 teaspoon chipotle chili powder (optional)
  • 2-3 tablespoons cilantro
  • 3 tablespoons lime juice (or more!)

Instructions

  1. Heat the oil in a stockpot or dutch oven over medium-high heat. Sauté the onions and jalapeños for 4-5 minutes or until they turn translucent. Add the garlic and continue to cook for 30 seconds.
  2. Add the black beans, warm water, salt, cumin, and chili powder and bring to a boil. When boiling, reduce the heat so that it simmers. Allow to cook for 10-15 minutes or until most of the water evaporates leaving a thick sort of broth. At this point, if you'd like to thicken the beans a bit more you can remove about ½ - 1 cup of beans and mash them (using a potato masher or a wooden spoon) to make a thick sort of paste but this is optional. Add the beans back into the pot and stir. Top with fresh cilantro and lime juice stir to combine.

Notes

  • This recipe can easily be halved to make enough for 4-5 servings.

Have you made this recipe?

If you enjoyed this recipe, please consider leaving a ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ rating and a comment below. You can also share a picture on Instagram with the hashtag #LITTLESPICEJAR, I'd love to see what you made!

IS THIS A GOOD CHOICE FOR YOU?

Cuban Black Beans with Cilantro and Lime Recipe | Little Spice Jar (6)*Please note: the nutritional factscalculated are an estimate based on the ingredientsi’ve used.If you’d like a more accurate count, please calculate them using the ingredients/brands you’ve used to prepare the recipe. The nutritional factsprovided is for1/10th of the recipe.

Cuban Black Beans with Cilantro and Lime Recipe | Little Spice Jar (7)

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30 Minute Meals By Diet Comfort Foods Dinner Under 500 calories30 minute meals ancho chili powder baked beans black beans chipotle chili powder chopped cilantro comfort food cuban cuban beans cuban black beans frijoles negros garlic jalapenos lime juice onions slow simmered beans vegan vegetarian

originally published on Jun 27, 2016 (last updated May 17, 2020)

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21 comments on “Cuban Black Beans with Cilantro and Lime”

Leave a comment »

  1. Cuban Black Beans with Cilantro and Lime Recipe | Little Spice Jar (8)

    Stacey — Reply

    This looks so good, it’s been a while since I’ve had a dish like this, I’ll be making this one soon!

  2. Cuban Black Beans with Cilantro and Lime Recipe | Little Spice Jar (9)

    angela — Reply

    These black beans were delicious! Definitly keeping this recipe! Thank you 🙂

  3. Cuban Black Beans with Cilantro and Lime Recipe | Little Spice Jar (10)

    Laura — Reply

    I made these beans to go with the Cuban Style Shredded Beef aka Ropa Veija. They were delicious and perfect!

    5

  4. Cuban Black Beans with Cilantro and Lime Recipe | Little Spice Jar (11)

    Nathalie — Reply

    Is this spicy by any chance?

    • Cuban Black Beans with Cilantro and Lime Recipe | Little Spice Jar (12)

      Marzia — Reply

      We didn’t find it spicy however everyones tolerance for heat is different. You can use less jalapeños or omit them completely if you’d like this to be more mild and of course, you can add more if you’d like it to be spicy!

  5. Cuban Black Beans with Cilantro and Lime Recipe | Little Spice Jar (13)

    Theresa — Reply

    I made these for a big outdoor birthday party with Mexican food and everyone LOVED them!! We took some home and ate with tortilla chips! Very yummy, thanks for recipe. I put in crock pot and people thought I cooked all day! ?

  6. Cuban Black Beans with Cilantro and Lime Recipe | Little Spice Jar (14)

    Dian — Reply

    Love these beans…have you tried freezing them??

  7. Cuban Black Beans with Cilantro and Lime Recipe | Little Spice Jar (16)

    R.S — Reply

    These were surprisingly good for a quick version of Cuban black beans with such a short list of ingredients. If you just recently found this recipe like me, do yourself a favor and make them with the Ropa Veija recipe available here as well. The only suggestion I would have is try tossing in a pinch of oregano and 2 oz. orange juice to brighten the flavors a little more.

    4

  8. Cuban Black Beans with Cilantro and Lime Recipe | Little Spice Jar (17)

    Deb T. — Reply

    Made these to accompany Cuban pork and rice, with a side of roasted caramelized plantain. Perfect amount of heat and cumin is my favorite spice! Thanks you for this delicious recipe!

    5

  9. Cuban Black Beans with Cilantro and Lime Recipe | Little Spice Jar (18)

    Amy P. — Reply

    Thank you for this recipe, it’s wonderful! The first time I made them, my kids (8 and 5) just devoured them. I love how simple and wholesome they are, and that just a few ingredients boasted great flavor. We rarely have any leftovers in our family of 4, but a fried egg on top for lunch would be soooo tasty. 🙂

    5

  10. Cuban Black Beans with Cilantro and Lime Recipe | Little Spice Jar (19)

    Liz — Reply

    Yum. These were delicious and so easy to make. I used almost a full tsp of chipotle chili powder and it made them pretty spicy.

    4

  11. Cuban Black Beans with Cilantro and Lime Recipe | Little Spice Jar (20)

    Melissa Torres — Reply

    This sounds like a perfect addition to our meals weekly. I love sprucing up affordable and good for you beans. I love cilantro and this goes well with so many different main meals!

  12. Cuban Black Beans with Cilantro and Lime Recipe | Little Spice Jar (21)

    Lori — Reply

    These were delicious!! My husband and I loved them. Thanks for the great recipe! I’m looking forward to trying others!

    4.5

  13. Cuban Black Beans with Cilantro and Lime Recipe | Little Spice Jar (22)

    Beth S. — Reply

    These beans were fan-frickin-tastic! Definitely going to be in our regular rotation. I’ll probably double the recipe next time because I’m sure the leftovers will be ever better.

    5

  14. Cuban Black Beans with Cilantro and Lime Recipe | Little Spice Jar (23)

    Shannon B.. — Reply

    Love this recipe! Goes perfect with the Cuban roast beef. Don’t add cilantro and lime just add individually. Note for myself

    5

  15. Cuban Black Beans with Cilantro and Lime Recipe | Little Spice Jar (24)

    Stephanie Rodriguez — Reply

    I make these beans ALL the time. I currently live in Dallas but was born and raised in Miami so Cuban food is a love of ours. Definitely a family favorite. I have to double or triple the recipe every time I make it!

    Thank you Marzia! 🙂

    5

  16. Cuban Black Beans with Cilantro and Lime Recipe | Little Spice Jar (25)

    Paityn — Reply

    I honestly love this recipe! Every time that I make rice and beans this is my go-to recipe. It’s completely vegan and delicious!!!!!!

    5

  17. Cuban Black Beans with Cilantro and Lime Recipe | Little Spice Jar (26)

    Jess — Reply

    So delicious! We continue to make there and use them for lots of different meals- ropa vieja, black bean guacamole tacos, nachos, salads. I could eat them just by themselves, honestly. We typically don’t have fresh jalapeños on hand so I always use jarred and have no complaints! I likw he vinegar taste they bring. Thanks for sharing your recipes!

    5

  18. Cuban Black Beans with Cilantro and Lime Recipe | Little Spice Jar (27)

    Gracie — Reply

    Delicious! We didn’t have limes on hand so I used lemons instead. Added some chopped rotisserie chicken in the bowl with rice – so yummy.

    5

  19. Cuban Black Beans with Cilantro and Lime Recipe | Little Spice Jar (28)

    Rhonda — Reply

    These came out amazing – so savory and tasty. Paired up with rice alongside your ropa vieja recipe. Mmmmm….

    5

Cuban Black Beans with Cilantro and Lime Recipe | Little Spice Jar (2024)

FAQs

Do you need to soak black beans overnight? ›

Soaking beans in the refrigerator overnight will reduce the time they have to cook drastically. And the texture of the beans will also be it their best, with fewer split-open and burst ones. But like we said, you don't have to commit this hard.

See More ›
How to spice up beans? ›

I like smoked paprika to add a bit of the campfire flavor, since I keep my beans vegetarian most of the time. I also like adding a little bit of red chile flake or a whole dried chile, sometimes some cumin, and maybe a little bit of Mexican oregano.

Continue Reading ›
How many cups are in a pound of dry black beans? ›

Dried (raw) black beans: 1 pound = 16 ounces = scant 2 1/2 cups. 1 pound dried black beans = 6 cups cooked black beans = four 15-ounce cans of cooked black beans.

Find Out More ›
What happens if you don't rinse black beans? ›

Canned beans are packed in a solution of water, salt, and starch. That solution can leave a glossy film on the beans, interfering with not only mouthfeel (slimy beans are a little off-putting), but also the ability of the beans to cling to other ingredients in the dish and absorb those flavors.

Read On ›
What happens if you don't soak beans before cooking? ›

Modern cooking websites often say it doesn't matter. In a way, they're both right. Soaking beans can help improve the texture of the final product once the beans are cooked and reduce the gas produced when the food is being digested. But it isn't necessary to soak them.

Find Out More ›
Which spice is best for beans? ›

In general, most beans go well with herbs like parsley, rosemary, sage, savory, and thyme. You usually can't go wrong with garlic and onions, either. Specific kinds of beans, like fava beans or mung beans, have other affinities with particular herbs and spices. This is not to say that other combinations won't work.

Learn More ›
What spice reduces gas in beans? ›

A few bloggers use the spices ajwain (or carom seed) and epazote in beans to reduce the gas.

Get More Info Here ›
How do you get the most flavor out of beans? ›

It helps, of course, to use good olive oil (and don't be stingy with it—you want the beans really swimming). I also like to add a peeled, smashed clove of garlic, or maybe a bay leaf or a few sprigs of thyme.

Read The Full Story ›
How much do 2 cups of dried black beans make? ›

You can expect 1 cup of dried beans to yield about 3 cups cooked beans. One pound of dried beans (which is about 2 cups) will yield about 6 cups cooked beans. If a recipe calls for canned beans: 1 15-oz can of beans equals about 2 cups cooked beans.

View Details ›
Is 2 cups of beans 1 lb? ›

Slow Cooker Method: Rinse beans. Remove any small stones, dirt pieces, or withered beans. Then, combine 1 pound dried beans (2 cups) with 8 cups water in slow cooker. Lastly, cook on low for 6 - 8 hours (or overnight) until beans are soft.

View Details ›

How many people will 1lb of dry beans feed? ›

One pound dry beans = six cups cooked beans, drained One pound of dry beans makes about 9 servings of baked beans or 12 servings of bean soup.

Read The Full Story ›
Do beans need soaked overnight in the fridge? ›

Soaking thoroughly cleans accumulated buildup on the surface of the bean, such as dirt, pesticide residue or contamination from rodents and insects. Soaking also allows beans to cool evenly. Like grains, soak at room temperature for 4 hours or overnight in the refrigerator.

See More ›
Do canned beans need to be soaked overnight? ›

Do you have to soak beans? No. Soaking them reduces cooking time somewhat (this can be especially important with beans that have been sitting in your pantry for a year or longer), but cooking without soaking may result in better flavor (interesting article on this topic here).

See Details ›
What happens if you forget to soak green peas overnight? ›

You can cook dried green peas without soaking them in liquid, but they will take far longer to cook. Unsoaked green split peas will take approximately 35-45 minutes; unsoaked whole green peas take up to 75 minutes to cook.

Continue Reading ›
When you soak beans overnight do you discard the water? ›

Soaking overnight and then discarding the soaking water leaches out sugars in beans that are responsible for gas production. But if you don't have time for a traditional overnight soak, a quick soak is just as beneficial. Rinse the beans and then place them in a pot with three cups of water for each cup of dried beans.

Find Out More ›

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