Healthy Black Bean Beef Chili Recipe

By Jessica King


Chili is a great meal, easy to fix and immensely satisfying. Using a black bean beef chili recipe makes a healthy variety of this popular dish, with the added health benefits of the nutritious legume. Make it for family dinners, casual entertaining, or for a 'make it on the weekend and eat it throughout the week' time saver.

This bean is native to the Americas but is now used all over the world. The tasty legumes have many health benefits, not the least of which are protein and fiber. They are rich sources of minerals and phytonutrients. They are also ranked low on the glycemic scale, which many use to keep their food choices in the 'heart healthy' range.

With seventy percent of its calories in the form of 'carbs', you'd think this would be a food to limit or to avoid. However, its carbs are what is called 'resistant', meaning 'hard to digest'. Rather than breaking down in the stomach, they pass on to the large intestine. There isn't a quick delivery of glucose to the bloodstream, so there's no insulin spike even though the meal is carbohydrate rich. The legumes nourish the large intestine, as well as enhancing total digestion by providing a lot of fiber.

The seedcoat of the bean, from which it gets its rich, dark color, contains flavanoids and anthocyanins, two categories of phytonutrient that have been shown to be highly beneficial. These legumes are ranked with other colorful vegetables like red cabbage and red onions. Another nutrient called quercetin promotes the immune system and helps people fight allergies and high cholesterol.

Beans in general are considered worthy of inclusion in a sensible diet plan, being good sources of protein and minerals. Black beans are rich in zinc and provide it in a bioavailable form that both men and women can absorb. The elements in seeds of all kinds that often bind minerals and make them hard to use don't seem to act against zinc in this legume. Called phytates, these elements also have antioxidant properties, making black beans even more nutritious.

These small, flavorful beans work in any recipe. Merely substitute them for red kidney, white, or pinto beans. Canned beans can be added directly, but dried beans should be rinsed and culled. Many people like to presoak them to make them more digestible. Just cover them with cold water and allow them to stand overnight. For faster cooking, bring them to a boil, remove from heat, and allow to stand until the beans are tender. You can use the soaking water for the final dish or pour it off and just use the beans.

Great chili starts with sauteed onions and garlic and well-browned beef, either hamburger or cubed chuck. Add prepared beans, tomato paste, diced tomatoes, and spices. Red chili powder, oregano, and cumin are traditional. You can add sea salt at any time, but wait until serving to add black pepper; this protects the valuable antioxidants of the pepper, which are destroyed by high heat. Garnish with fresh cilantro and serve with shredded cheese and sour cream for a delicious, colorful meal.

You can also enjoy the healthy black bean in soups, dips, tacos, and salads. This is an easy way to boost nutrition in your daily diet.




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