Learn the secrets to making traditional Cuban black beans and rice, just like how they do it in Cuba. This delicious and easy-to-follow recipe will transport your taste buds to the streets of Havana.
Cuban Style Black Beans
These flavor-packed Cuban Black Beans are simmered in a sofrito made with onions, bell peppers, tomatoes, garlic, and cilantro and seasoned with ground cumin, dried oregano, and a splash of vinegar. This recipe calls for canned black beans to speed the cooking time along. Not only is this dish packed with flavor, but it is also packed with carbohydrates, protein, and fiber. Enjoy these easy and tasty beans over cilantro lime rice or as a side with picadillo, chile verde, or ropa vieja. Or serve them with tacos or enchiladas.
Ingredients for Cuban Black Beans
How to make Cuban Black Beans
First, add the onion, red bell pepper, green bell pepper, tomatoes, garlic, and cilantro to a food processor with the chopping blade attached. Pulse several times until you reach a salsa-type consistency. Heat just a little olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Then, add the onion mixture and cook for several minutes, letting all the delicious flavors meld and simmer.
Stir in the black beans, ground cumin, dried oregano, and vinegar. Simmer for 20-25 minutes or until desired consistency. Season with salt and pepper to taste. Garnish with chopped fresh cilantro.
Recipe Tips
- Pulse the ingredients for the sofrito in the food processor until the consistency of salsa.
- Simmer the sofrito for several minutes before adding the beans to bring out all the best flavors and aromas.
- Do not drain the black beans. The liquid in the canned beans is the salt and water it was cooked with.
- Serve the black beans over cooked long grain white rice and sprinkle with chopped fresh cilantro.
Storage and Reheat
Store leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3 days. Reheat in the microwave at reduced power.
To freeze, first cool completely. Then, spoon into a sturdy airtight freezer container and freeze for up to 2 months. Thaw in the fridge overnight.
More Bean Recipes
Cuban Black Beans Recipe
Ingredients
- 1 medium onion coarsely chopped
- 1/2 medium red bell pepper seeded, veined, and coarsely chopped
- 1/2 medium green bell pepper seeded, veined, and coarsely chopped
- 2 medium tomatoes
- 4 cloves garlic
- 1 bunch cilantro
- 1 tablespoons olive oil
- 2 (15-ounce) cans black beans (do not drain)
- ½ teaspoon ground cumin
- ½ teaspoon dried oregano
- 1 tablespoon white vinegar
- Kosher salt and fresh ground black pepper to taste
Instructions
- Add the onion, red bell pepper, green bell pepper, tomatoes, garlic, and cilantro to a food processor with the chopping blade attached. Pulse several times until you reach a salsa-type consistency.
- Heat the olive oil in a skillet over medium heat. Add the vegetable mixture and cook for 3-5 minutes.
- Stir in the black beans, ground cumin, dried oregano, and vinegar. Simmer for 20-25 minutes or until desired consistency. Season with kosher salt and fresh ground black pepper to taste.
Notes
- Pulse the ingredients for the sofrito in the food processor until the consistency of salsa.
- Simmer the sofrito for several minutes before adding the beans to bring out all the best flavors and aromas.
- Do not drain the black beans. The liquid in the canned beans is the salt and water that it was cooked with.
- Serve the black beans over cooked long grain white rice and sprinkle with chopped fresh cilantro.
- Store leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3 days. Reheat in the microwave at reduced power.
- To freeze first cool completely. Then spoon into a sturdy airtight freezer container and freeze for up to 2 months. Thaw in the fridge overnight.
Nutrition
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Miller Thomas
This is a great meal during any season.
A family favorite! Thanks for posting
Beth Pierce
My pleasure, Miller!
Coleen
How much is a bunch of cikantro? The bunch I get from the store is humongous, at least a cup,if not more.
Beth Pierce
1/2 cup is what I am aiming for.
Clarice Ford
I love black beans! This recipe is really delicious with tons and tons of flavor. I served it over white rice and it was a hit! Thanks for the awesome recipe.
Eloise Roberts
We made these beans tonight for dinner and they were soooo good! They went perfect with our tacos and cilantro lime rice! I can’t wait to make these again!
Beth Pierce
Thanks, Eloise! So glad that you liked them!
Bethany R
This recipe for cuban black beans was so easy and flavorful. They are the perfect side for our favorite chicken tacos. You always have the best recipe.
Beth Pierce
Thanks so much Bethany! I am glad that you like my recipe.
Predrag Kovačević
I love black beans. It seems like they are less farty 🙂 Thanks for sharing
Beth Pierce
Wow! I am not sure how to respond to that!
Roger
These cuban black beans are the best side dish for anything with a latin mexican flair. I love them with my homemade shrimp chimichangas and with your beef birria tacos. Thanks for an amazing recipe!
Beth Pierce
You are most welcome, Roger!
Katrina
This recipe for Cuban black beans was amazing! I love how it captures the authentic flavors of Cuba with the sofrito and spices. Delicious with cilantro lime rice. Thanks for sharing! 🍲🌶️
Beth Pierce
My pleasure, Katrina!
Benjamin Hudson
Well, it looks like I found a new topping for my nachos and tacos. I made them over rice first, but I can tell they’re going to be used in a lot more things going forward.
Dana Beck
This is so delicious! My husband couldn’t stop eating it! I love all your recipes I have made and thank you for sharing them!!
Beth Pierce
Thanks, Dana! The pleasure is all mine!
Sandra
Love recipes that can be a side dish or the main dish packed with protein. Cannot wait to try them thanks for the recipe!!
Andrea
These delicious Cuban black beans are bursting with so much flavor and make a perfect side dish. I served them over rice with chicken tacos.
Dannii
Now this is my kind of comfort food. So much flavour and very budget friendly too.
Kushigalu
Love black beans, and thanks for the recipe. so delicious
Erin
Such a fantastic dish! We loved it. Cuban food is so tasty.
Catalina
These black beans are so delicious and easy. The flavor is out of this world good!
Carol C
These were so tasty! I never knew black beans could taste so darn good! Thanks for the outstanding recipe!
Beth Pierce
You are most welcome, Carol!