Name: Black Bean Burrito Bowl
Prep time: 10 min
Cook time: 10 min
Yield: 8
Ingredients: 1 pound dry black beans -; 2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil -; 1 tablespoon ground cumin -; 4 bay leaves -; 2 teaspoons kosher salt -; 3 cloves garlic, minced -; OR -; 4 15-ounce cans of whole black bean (preferably S&W premium black beans, or Bush's best black beans) -; 1 teaspoon ground cumin -; 1 teaspoon garlic powder -; 1/2 cup chopped cilantro -; 3 cups, uncooked rice, white or brown -; 1/2 teaspoon salt -; 4 1/2 to 6 cups of water, depending on the type of rice (read package) -; Sliced red cabbage -; Ripe avocado, peeled and cut into chunks -; Fresh tomato salsa -; Chopped fresh cilantro -; Queso fresco Mexican farmer's cheese (or Cotija cheese) (skip if cooking vegan) -; Sour cream or crema fresca (skip if cooking vegan) -

Ingredients for - Black Bean Burrito Bowl

1. 1 pound dry black beans

2. 2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil

3. 1 tablespoon ground cumin

4. 4 bay leaves

5. 2 teaspoons kosher salt

6. 3 cloves garlic, minced

7. OR

8. 4 15-ounce cans of whole black bean (preferably S&W premium black beans, or Bush's best black beans)

9. 1 teaspoon ground cumin

10. 1 teaspoon garlic powder

11. 1/2 cup chopped cilantro

12. 3 cups, uncooked rice, white or brown

13. 1/2 teaspoon salt

14. 4 1/2 to 6 cups of water, depending on the type of rice (read package)

15. Sliced red cabbage

16. Ripe avocado, peeled and cut into chunks

17. Fresh tomato salsa

18. Chopped fresh cilantro

19. Queso fresco Mexican farmer's cheese (or Cotija cheese) (skip if cooking vegan)

20. Sour cream or crema fresca (skip if cooking vegan)

How to cook deliciously - Black Bean Burrito Bowl

1 . Stage

Place the beans and the liquid from the can in a sauce pan: (Taste the liquid first; if it tastes good, use it, if not, drain the beans first, and add as much liquid to the pot with the beans as you strained out.)

2 . Stage

Add the cumin and garlic powder to the beans. Bring to a simmer: Simmer for a minute or two to heat the beans through. Stir in the cilantro and remove from heat.

3 . Stage

Soak the beans: Place 1 pound of dried black beans in a large bowl or pot. Cover with 2 inches of water, let soak overnight, then drain. You can skip overnight soaking, place black beans in bowl, and cover with 2 inches of boiling water. Let soak for one hour. Then drain.

4 . Stage

Bring beans to a simmer: Place soaked and drained beans in a large pot. Cover with 2 inches of water. Bring to a boil, reduce to a simmer.

5 . Stage

Sauté spices and garlic, add to beans: While the beans are coming to a boil in step 2, heat 2 tablespoons of olive oil in a small pan on medium heat. Stir in 1 tablespoon ground cumin and cook until fragrant, 1 to 2 minutes. Add 3 cloves minced garlic, cook 1 minute more. Once the beans are boiling, add the cumin-garlic mixture to the pot with the beans. Add 2 bay leaves and 2 teaspoons kosher salt to the pot as well.

6 . Stage

Cook beans until tender: Cook the beans, uncovered, until tender, but not mushy, 30 minutes to 2 hours, depending on the size and age of the beans.

7 . Stage

Strain the beans: When the beans are done, place a strainer over a separate pot. Pour the beans into the strainer, to collect the cooking water into the pot. Set aside the beans, and boil down the cooking liquid until thickened and slightly syrupy. Return the cooking liquid to the beans and stir.

8 . Stage

Cook the rice: Place 3 cups of rice in a large saucepan. Depending on the type of rice you are using (short grain, long grain, white, brown) you will add any where from 4 1/2 cup of water to 6 cups of water to the pot. Check the rice package instructions. Add 1/2 teaspoon of salt. Bring to a boil, lower the heat to low to maintain a very low simmer. Cover and cook from 15 minutes to 45 minutes, depending on the type of rice (again, check the package instructions for the rice you are using). Remove from heat and let rest for 10 minutes, covered, before fluffing with a fork to serve.

9 . Stage

Construct the burrito bowl: Place a serving of cooked rice at the bottom of a serving bowl. Top with black beans. Top with assorted garnishes—thinly sliced cabbage, chopped avocados, chopped cilantro, queso fresco and sour cream.