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Restaurant Style Black Beans

Restaurant style black beans with creamy, glossy texture come from partially mashing the beans while simmering. Simmered with onion, garlic, bay leaves, and cumin, then finished with lime juice and chopped cilantro for a fresh, spiced side.
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Prep Time 5 minutes
Cook Time 30 minutes
Total Time 35 minutes
Servings: 6 servings
Course: Side Dish
Cuisine: Mexican
Calories: 260
Ingredients Equipment Method Notes

Ingredients
  

Restaurant Style Black Beans
  • 3 can (15 oz) black beans Drained and rinsed.
  • 3 tbsp olive oil
  • 1 white onion Quartered.
  • 6 cloves garlic Minced.
  • 2 bay leaves
  • 1 tsp cumin
  • 0.5 tsp black pepper
  • 0.5 tsp salt
  • 1 cup vegetable or chicken broth
  • 0.25 cup cilantro Chopped.
  • lime juice to taste

Equipment

  • 1 Dutch oven

Method
 

Cook the aromatics
  1. Heat olive oil in a large pot over medium heat. Add quartered onion and cook for 2 minutes until softened, then add minced garlic and cook for 1 minute until fragrant, stirring as needed.
Simmer for creamy texture
  1. Add drained black beans, bay leaves, cumin, black pepper, salt, and broth. Bring to a simmer and cook uncovered for 20 minutes, stirring occasionally to keep the beans glossy.
Mash, season, and finish
  1. Mash about 1/4 of the beans against the side of the pot to create a creamy consistency while keeping some beans whole. Taste and adjust seasonings with lime juice until the flavor pops, then remove bay leaves.
Serve
  1. Stir in chopped cilantro and serve hot with a bright green garnish on top.

Notes

For the creamiest, glossy texture, mash the beans while they’re still actively simmering so the starches thicken the broth; keep about a few whole beans for contrast. Refrigerate leftovers in a sealed container for up to 4 days; reheat on the stove with a splash of broth. Freezing is yes (up to 3 months), though cilantro may look slightly dull after thawing—stir in a fresh pinch if desired. For a dairy-free swap, this recipe is naturally vegan if you use vegetable broth (use chicken broth only if preferred).