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Cumin & Lime Black Beans

These beans are a great prepare-ahead option. They reheat well, and the flavor is even better after a couple of hours. Try them chilled with a few baked tortilla chips for an excellent high-fiber snack. Or heat them up—they’re fantastic stirred into brown rice for a tasty side dish to accompany Luau London Broil (see page 105). Or simply toss the chilled beans into a salad.

Recipe information

  • Yield

    3 servings

Ingredients

1 (15-ounce) can 50%-less-sodium black beans, drained
1 1/2 tablespoons finely chopped onion (I used red onion, but any variety is okay)
1 tablespoon fresh lime juice
1 tablespoon finely chopped cilantro leaves
1/4 teaspoon ground cumin
Sea salt and fresh ground black pepper, to taste

Preparation

  1. Microwave Instructions

    Step 1

    Add the beans to a medium microwave-safe bowl. Cover the bowl with a microwave-safe plate. Microwave the beans on high until they are heated through, about 1 minute.

    Step 2

    Stir in the onion, lime juice, cilantro, and cumin until well combined. Season with salt and pepper to taste. Serve immediately, or store in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 2 days.

  2. Stovetop Instructions

    Step 3

    Instead of microwaving the beans, heat them over medium heat in a small saucepan, stirring occasionally, until warmed, 5 to 7 minutes. Then follow the remaining instructions, mixing them directly in the pan, removed from the heat.

  3. nutrition information

    Step 4

    Each (heaping 1/2-cup) serving has:

    Step 5

    Calories: 82

    Step 6

    Protein: 6g

    Step 7

    Carbohydrates: 20g

    Step 8

    Trace Fat

    Step 9

    Saturated Fat: 0g

    Step 10

    Cholesterol: 0mg

    Step 11

    Fiber: 7g

    Step 12

    Sodium: 291mg

Reprinted with permission from I Can't Believe It's Not Fattening! by Devin Alexander. Copyright © 2010 Devin Alexander. Published by Clarkson Potter Publishers, a division of Random House, Inc. All rights reserved. Devin Alexander is the author of The Most Decadent Diet Ever, Fast Food Fix, and coauthor of The New York Times bestsellers The Biggest Loser Cookbook and The Biggest Loser Family Cookbook. She was a chef on NBC's The Biggest Loser and the host of Healthy Decadence on Discover Health and FitTV.
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