OK. I admit when I saw Melissa D’Arabian whipping these up on her show on Food Network Saturday morning I was a little skeptical. I could not believe what I saw her put in a blender and turn into a platter of yummy sweetness…..
BLACK BEAN BROWNIES!!
I love this particular legume…I mean I really love them. Not just because they are healthy but because of their versatility. Just when I thought I had made them every which way Mrs. D’Arabian throws me a curve ball
There was a week last summer when we had them in some form every night. Soup, “burgers”, dip, hummus…you name it I made it. I was transitioning us into a meatless phase (long story for another time) so I wanted my family to see that we could have a filling and satisfying dinner without meat. I think I may have taken the bean thing a little too far…if you know what I mean
Anyhow, off topic….AGAIN! Back to the brownies. I have made them twice this week. Once with canned black beans and once with the hard, soak them all night variety. I like the latter better but if you really rinse the canned ones and add NO SALT to the recipe those will work too. I really do prefer the taste and consistency (and price) of using dried beans here. Soak and cook them according to package directions. I used my brand of choice Hurst’s Beans.
You will not believe how easy these are. I made them entirely in the blender. I did not tell anyone I was making these because I wanted to see if they noticed at all. Guess what? They didn’t!
I also make a version of these using spinach but that is for another post. I hope you try these, you will be pleasantly surprised!
A Melissa d’Arabian recipe
Ingredients
- 3/4 cup cooked black beans
- 1/2 cup vegetable oil, or olive oil
- 2 eggs
- 1/4 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
- 2/3 cup sugar
- 1 teaspoon instant coffee or espresso
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1/2 cup mini chocolate chips, divided
- 1/3 cup flour
- 1/2 teaspoon baking powder
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- powdered sugar, for dusting
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.
- Grease a 9 by 9-inch square baking pan.
- In a blender, puree the beans with the oil.
- Add the eggs, cocoa, sugar, coffee, and vanilla.
- Melt half the chocolate chips and add to the blender.
- Blend on medium-high until smooth. In a small bowl, whisk together the flour, baking powder, and salt.
- Add to the blender and pulse until just incorporated.
- Stir in the remaining chocolate chips. Pour into the prepared pan.
- Bake until the surface looks somewhat matte around the edges and still a bit shiny in the middle, about 20 minutes.
- Let cool at least 15 minutes before cutting and removing from the pan.
- Dust with powdered sugar and serve
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