A delicious and healthy dish to eat with any type of Mexican food. TheseCopycat Cafe Rio black beansare the perfect side dish to eat with burritos, salads, and enchiladas or even plain. An easy, quick, and deliciously flavorful way to take your black beans to the next level to complement anyMexican dish.
Copycat Cafe Rio Black Beans
Keep reading for the ingredients, instructions, and health benefits of this recipe.
===========================
Eliminate guesswork and confusion and start seeing results.
Subscribe to Tone-and-Tighten.com and get our FREE “7-Day Workout and Healthy Menu Plan” delivered daily right to your inbox.CLICK HERE to get it.
===========================
There is a delicious Tex-Mex restaurant here in Utah (and I think in some Western states) that has the most amazing black beans, so when I came across a copycat version of the recipe I knew I had to make it.
These make the perfect side dish or even a delicious lunch.
In the past whenever we’ve put black beans into a Mexican dish, we would simply open the can and add them to the recipe.
Little did we know- we were missing out on so much flavor.
There are so many things you can do to simple black beans to enhance their flavor and take your recipe to the next level.
These beans are so good we actually just serve them as a stand-alone side dish and people LOVE them. Even my kids (who are relatively picky eaters) go crazy for them.
I know you’ll enjoy these healthy black beans.
ARE BLACK BEANS GOOD FOR YOU?
Black beansare a healthy legume for our digestive tracts with ahigh bioavailability of nutrients.
Black beans are a mixture of protein and carbohydrate, but the carbohydrate type is a mixture of starch and fiber, which is beneficial for our bodies and helps us regulate blood sugar levels.
Along with providing fiber and protein, a serving of black beans ispacked with many other nutrientsto benefit your body. Here are a few:
- Iron-creates healthy red blood cells for delivering oxygen to your body.
- Zinc-plays a role in protein synthesis, wound healing, growth and development, and regulating your immune system.
- Folate:essential for DNA synthesis and making red blood cells, and is important for pregnant women in order to prevent birth defects.
- Thiamin:a key component of metabolizing food to give you energy.
- Copper: important for skin structure,creates healthy red blood cells as well as nerves and enzymes.
- Phosphorus:strengthens bones and teeth and helps in muscle and nerve function.
- Magnesium:also strengthens bones and maintains healthy blood pressure and energy conversion.
Many of these nutrients are important to include after exercise to help your body refuel and recover, making black beans a great post-workout food.
Otherhealth benefitsof regularly including legumes, such as black beans, in your diet includereduced risk of some cancers, lower cholesterol, and improved cardiovascular health.
And if you also eat other protein foods like meat, fish, and poultry, then black beanscount as a serving of vegetables.
WHAT IS THE HEALTHIEST TYPE OF BEAN?
Beans/legumes can be comparable to many fruits and vegetables with their high nutrient and phytochemical content. They are low in fat, and high in folate, potassium, magnesium, and iron. They also provide you with fiber and protein.
Some of the highest nutrient-packed beans include black beans, kidney beans, pinto beans, mung beans, and navy beans.
But ALL types of beans are a great food to regularly include in your diet foroverall healthand decreased risk of disease. Start eating more beans for a well-balanced diet- they are easy to make and eat, delicious, and very affordable.
Black beans are ahealthy choicefor a healthier you-even if you use canned beans.
CAN BLACK BEANS HELP YOU LOSE WEIGHT?
Black beans can be beneficial for weight loss when included regularly in your eating plan.
Including black beans in your diet is agreat way to get protein and fiber, which both help you to feel full, decrease cravings, and contribute to a lower calorie intake.
Keep your serving size to about 1/2 cup of black beans, and they will be a great addition to your healthy weight loss diet.
Interested in a great meal plan? Check out Tone and Tighten’s eBook. 30 days of breakfast, lunch, dinner, and snacks that are both delicious AND healthy.
“The 30 Day Healthy Menu Plan” Real recipes for real people – CLICK HERE to learn more.
These black beans are simple to make and act as the perfect side dish to any Mexican meal; or put them in burritos, tacos, enchiladas for crazy good flavor.
Hope you enjoy.
Save Print
Copycat Cafe Rio Black Beans
Recipe type:Side Dish
Prep time:
Cook time:
Total time:
Serves:4 servings
An easy and delicious side dish that's healthy!
Ingredients
- 1 onion
- 1 clove garlic, chopped
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 1 (16 oz) can black beans, undrained
- ¼ teaspoon cumin
- ⅛ - ¼ teaspoon cayenne pepper (depending on how much of a kick you want to add)
- 1 tablespoon fresh cilantro
- ½ teaspoon lime juice (optional)
- salt and pepper to taste
Instructions
- In a large saucepan, saute onion and garlic over medium heat until tender.
- Add in black beans, cumin, and cayenne pepper and bring to a boil; let simmer for about 15 minutes to let the flavors meld together.
- Stir in lime juice, fresh cilantro and salt and pepper.
- Serve and enjoy!
Be sure to follow Tone and Tighten on Pinterest, Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, and YouTube for more workouts, recipes, and fitness ideas.
Looking for some healthy Mexican dishes to serve with it?
Ground Turkey Taco Skillet
Turkey and Black Bean Enchiladas
Southwest Quinoa Bake
Do you have an Instant Pot? It’s probably my favorite cooking appliance of all time. So simple, so quick, and so delicious! Check out this collection of some of my favorite healthy Instant Pot side dishes:
You can get your own Instant Pot when you CLICK ON THIS LINK!
Don’t miss out on the great workouts available on Tone and Tighten. Be sure to try some of these:
5 Great AT Home Cardio Workouts to Burn Fat
40 Minute Indoor Jogging Cardio Workout
5 At Home HIIT Workouts Without Equipment
10 Lunge Variations to Tone and Sculpt Your Legs
