Kuners Spicy Black Beans make Awesomely Delicious Soup
Written: Nov 03 '09 (Updated Nov 04 '09)
Product Rating:
Pros: Well seasoned black beans ready to kick up your recipe Very Nutritious
Cons: Need a can opener Possible digestive issues...
The Bottom Line: A wonderful addition to many recipes. I have been making black bean soup for years, and Kuner's Southwestern Black Beans with Cumin and Chili Spices is the perfect ingredient!
jenniferkateab's Full Review: Kuners, Bean Black With Spice, 15-Ounce (12 Pack) ...
Black beans are one of my favorite foods because to my taste buds, they are as tasty as they are healthy. I've been buying black beans ever since I got married and my husband's Mom taught me how to make black bean soup. Now, being a Texas girl, I took her French-inspired, classic recipe and kicked it up a few notches until it suited my Tex-Mex taste. One of the key ingredients in my "Mom Can I have More Soup? Black Bean Soup" recipe is a can of Kuner's Southwestern Black Beans with Cumin and Chili Spices.
A 15-ounce can of these spicy black beans is the perfect ingredient for many recipes because the beans come loaded with just the right spices and ingredients. They are steeped in flavor, which means your recipes will not need to cook long to achieve maximum taste. The beans inside the can are packed in a delicious, dark brown, chili-inspired sauce. The unctuous sauce contains tomato paste, salt, chili pepper, sugar, onion and garlic powder, starch, soybean oil, cracker meal, spice, flavorings and vinegar. The beans in this Southwestern spiced product retain their shape well ~ they are neither overcooked nor undercooked ~ they are not hard or mushy either. Kuner's black beans aren't spicy hot, but have a mild chili taste. If you wanted spicier beans, Kuners also makes a variety with jalapenos which definitely delivers more of a kick.
I'll be honest and say that I don't serve Kuner's Southwestern Black Beans with Cumin and Chili Spices on their own. I always add them to recipes like my black bean soup or chili. I don't drain them either, to make sure I get all the yummy sauce. You could also turn them into bean dip with a stick blender, or possibly even make veggie burger patties with them (I haven't tried that yet). Nutritionally, these spiced-up beans add lots to the table. A 1/2 cup serving is only 130 calories, but provides 8 grams of Fiber, 8 grams of Protein, and 15% daily value of Iron and Vitamin A, along with 8% daily value of Calcium. Wow! At least one of my kids will eat three servings of black bean soup for dinner, so it's definitely a kid-pleaser.
Here is my quick and easy recipe for:
Mom Can I have More Soup? Black Bean Soup
15 oz. can Kuner's Southwestern Black Beans with Cumin and Chili Spices (undrained) 15 oz. can plain black beans (undrained) 1-2 cups chicken broth (use less for thick soup, more for thinner soup) 8 oz. can tomato sauce 2 tsp. chili powder (or to taste) 2 tsp. ground cumin (or to taste) 1/8 tsp. coriander (optional, gives a slightly mid-east flavor) 1 Tbl. dried, chopped onion, or to taste (I like Kirkland brand) Juice of 1 lime
Add all ingredients except for lime juice in a medium pot. Bring to a simmer and simmer uncovered, over medium-low heat, for about 20-25 minutes. Stir occasionally. Mash the beans with a potato masher until the soup thickens (I leave the soup pretty chunky). Squeeze the juice of one lime in and stir. I generally don't need to add any salt. Serve with Corn Tortilla Chips, Sour Cream, Grated Cheddar Cheese and Sliced Green Onions.
Serves: Two very hungry people, or Four appetizer or side-dish servings.
Enjoy!
**Note** I have been making variations of my black bean soup recipe for over a decade. Recently, I became addicted to listening to "Cooking with the Moms" podcast, and I heard them talking about their quick black bean soup recipe. I was surprised to find their recipe is similar to mine, although the two Moms recommend cooking their soup for only 5 minutes. If you're interested in seeing another healthy-sounding black bean soup recipe, and other yummy sounding recipes, check out: http://www.mealmakeovermoms.com/recipes/slow-cooker-soups/last-minute-black-bean-soup/
Epinions.com periodically updates pricing and product information from third-party sources, so some information may be slightly out-of-date. You should confirm all information before relying on it.