Restaurant Style Black Beans

We love beans at our house because they are affordable, filling, healthy, and oh so good! This recipe is our favorite way of making black beans. Be sure to note that they need to soak overnight so you DO need to think ahead! I will often cook up a batch in the crock pot at that point I can either season them restaurant style like the recipe below or I drain them and put them in Tupperware or baggies and freeze for later use. They are also really good mashed up like refried beans. For that I season leave the liquid on and mash with a potato masher.

Restaurant Style Black Beans

7 cups black beans (I have a 5 quart crock pot if yours is smaller you will need to use less beans and adjust seasoning accordingly)
Soak Water
Cooking Water
1-2 heaping teaspoons vegetable bullion (I like Rapunzel)
3 teaspoons sea salt
1 Tablespoon Minced Onion
2 teaspoons granulated garlic
3 teaspoons dried basil
1 teaspoon oregano or Italian seasoning (I know beans are more Mexican but trust me this is the secret ingredient)

Place beans in crock pot and cover with water by about 3-5 inches. Let soak OVERNIGHT. Do NOT turn crock pot on! In the morning drain and rinse beans place back in the crock pot and cover with water by about ONE inch. Turn crock pot on high. Let cook all day you may want to stir a few time once they start cooking good depending on your crock pot you may find medium is a better setting I usually use high because I don't seem to get my cooking until at least 10 am! If you need to add a little more water that is fine but remember with this recipe we won't be draining them so you don't want too much water. After they are done and about an hour before serving stir in the other ingredients.

We love this recipe on a Cafe Rio type taco salad. We take a whole wheat tortilla put it in a bowl and add Lime Rice , these Restaurant Style Black Beans, Cheezy Sauce, I saute some onion and mushrooms in a little coconut oil and Sucanat to make sweet onions, corn, tomatoes, salsa, mango salsa, lots of greens, Ranch Dressing, Guacamole, and some lime and cilantro!MMMMmmmmmmm!