From Linda Larsen,
Your Guide to Busy Cooks.
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The Start With series continues this week with canned black beans as our focus. These shiny little beans are also called turtle beans or Frijoles Negros. They are high in dietary fiber (especially soluble fiber), magnesium, protein, folate, and iron. They are also very high in antioxidants, potent cancer-fighting chemicals. And they taste great too! Their mild flavor and texture reminds me of fresh mushrooms.

You can use black beans in so many ways; as an instant pasta sauce along with sauteed onions and some Parmesan cheese, heated with rice and sauteed vegetables for a quick vegetarian entree, or add them to any canned soup to increase fiber and protein content.

Black Bean Recipes

• Black Bean Wild Rice Salad
  I found some great orzo pasta I ordered from Gristede's that's different from the orzo I buy locally. It's longer and reminds me of wild rice, so I added it to this recipe. It's fabulous!
• Tex Mex Black Bean Wraps
  Mash up some black beans and use that for the base of a spicy and creamy sandwich spread.
• Polenta and Black Bean Salsa
  Crisp little rounds of polenta are topped with a spicy and thick black bean salsa in this delicious and inventive vegetarian main dish recipe.
• Shrimp and Black Bean Salad
  With just eight ingredients, this incredible salad is ready to eat in minutes. This is one of my favorites!
• Quick Black Bean Soup
  Black beans, corn, tomatoes, and spices combine to make a hearty soup that tastes like it was simmered all day. But it's ready in less than 20 minutes.
• Microwave Mexican Chili
  Use your microwave to make this thick and spicy chili in a hurry. Top it with crumbled tortilla chips, salsa, and sour cream.
• Mango Black Bean Salsa
  Serve this unusual salsa as a dip with tortilla chips, or serve as a side salad over lettuce the next time you grill chicken breasts or steaks.
• Tex Mex Impossible Pie
  Black beans provide color, flavor, and texture in this simple to make entree recipe. Make sure you offer all the trimmings!
• Barley Black Bean Salad
  Boy, talk about a healthy salad! And the taste and texture is so wonderful too. This salad would also be excellent as a wrap sandwich filling.
• Crockpot Vegetarian Chili
  Canned and fresh ingredients make this slow cooker recipe a real winner. Serve it with some hot Cornbread right out of the oven.
• Gazpacho Salad
  Black beans combined with celery, bell peppers, tomatoes, and a spicy dressing makes a delicious salad ready in minutes.
• Ramen Shrimp Soup
  Ramen soup mix, along with shrimp and black beans, makes a fabulous quick soup recipe ready in about 20 minutes.
• Santa Fe Chicken Casserole
  You could leave the chicken out of this recipe and add another can of black beans for a superb vegetarian main dish recipe. This is one of my all time favorite recipes.
• Southwest Cheese Soup
  Just five ingredients make this rich and thick soup so easy. Top it with seasoned croutons or crushed blue corn tortilla chips.
• Mexican Chicken Salad
  This no cook salad is perfect for those times when you just can't face the stove. Keep these ingredients on hand for a quick meal.
• Chicken Corn and Black Bean Salad
  The dressing for this delicious salad is made from apricot preserves, lime juice, and chili powder for a sweet and spicy kick. Try it soon!