Black beans and polenta is a classic combo that you make make in mere minutes using pre-made polenta rolls. The base recipe is vegan but we’ve included variations for vegetarians and bacon-eaters.
Simple, fast and filling, you can get this flavourful black bean and polenta entree on the table in about 20 minutes, and yes that’s IF you’re making it ALL 3 ways.
Ingredients
Ingredients for Black Beans and Polenta
Making Black Beans and Polenta
Big picture, this entree is made in four really quick jaunts, three if you’re not a bacon-eater.
Jaunt one has you toasting spices in a frying pan, stirring in some tomato paste and then adding in the black beans. Done. Leave that on the back burner to cook for 5 minutes or so, while you start the second quick jaunt.
Now, you’re grating cheese, slicing avocado, and rummaging through the fridge for your salsa and sour cream. That’s jaunt two. Over already.
The third jaunt, grilling your polenta — is fast, just 2 minutes a side.
Meanwhile, if you’re a carnivore, this whole time you’ve been crisping up a few rashers of bacon on the side. Along with some of its luscious smoky fat, you’ll stir that into your beans just before serving.
If all diners eat bacon, then you can cook the beans right in the bacon fat. For extra indulgence you can also grill the polenta in a little bit of the bacon fat.
All in all, we’re talking 20 minutes tops before you’ll be heaping your plates with spicy black beans, crispy polenta rounds, buttery avocado and/or cheese and garnishes of your favourite salsa and sour cream.
Tips: co-Existing with carnivores
Many households have people with different diets: maybe mom and daughter number one are vegetarian, daughter number two's a vegan, and all the males eat meat. One way to keep the carnivore's happy when eating a mainly plant-based meal is to swirl in some bacon fat and/or pieces of bacon. That's just what we are doing with this recipe.
In other plant-based recipes, try making a carnivore-friendly version by replacing the oil with an equal amount of bacon fat - for example, pan-frying Beyond Meat Meatballs in bacon fat gives the meatballs a smoky, carnivorous undertone.
Related Recipes
You might be interested in other recipes that can be made for mixed groups:
Recipe Card
Black Beans and Polenta
Ingredients
- 2 cups black beans, cooked {See Recipe Notes}
- 1 tablespoon oil
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon chili powder
- 1/2 teaspoon hot chili powder
- 1 tablespoon tomato paste
- salt {to taste}
- 1/3 polenta round
- 1/2 tablespoon oil
- 2-3 slices bacon {optional, per meat-eater}
- cheese, grated {optional, for serving}
- sour cream or plain yogurt {optional, for serving}
- avocado, sliced {optional, for serving}
- salsa {optional, for serving}
- 1 tablespoon cilantro {optional, for garnish}
Instructions
- If you’re making the carnivore version, use scissors to slice the bacon into 2 inch strips. Heat a heavy pan and fry the bacon until your desired level of crispiness and set aside.
- Meanwhile, get the black beans going: In a large cast-iron pan, heat the oil, then add in the spices and let cook for a few minutes, stirring.Add in the tomato paste and 2 tablespoons of water and stir until well-combined. Stir in the beans. Let cook over medium heat while you are grilling the polenta and prepping your toppings. Add an extra tablespoon or two of water if it starts to dry out. It won’t be saucy, the beans are just lightly coated.Add salt to taste.
- Sort out your toppings (slice avocado, grate cheese, find salsa and sour cream, etc.)
- Grill the polenta:Brush a heavy grill pan with oil and heat over medium heat until sizzling. {Note, if you are a carnivore-only crew, use some of your bacon fat for this.}Grill each side for 2 minutes until slightly browned and crunchy.
- To assemble, heap a pile of beans on your plate, top with polenta rounds, and then your choice of garnishes. Enjoy!If you've made the bacon, separate out enough beans for the carnivores in your group and stir it into the beans along with a little bit of the bacon fat.
Notes
Recipe Notes
- Save the liquid from cooking the black beans, or the liquid from the can. It's called aquafaba and it can be used to replace eggs in baked goods. Please see our post, Aquafaba: An Easy Vegan Egg Replacer. You can freeze it if you don't plan on using it right away.
- If you don't have polenta, you could serve this topped with some corn chips.
- If you don't have tomato paste you can substitute with some ketchup.
- If you are all carnivores, cook the bacon first, then scoop out a bit of bacon fat to fry the polenta in a separate pan. Add the beans and spices to the pan with the cooked bacon.