For many people, baking has been a way of passing time while social distancing during the COVID-19 pandemic. As the recipes and the aprons came out of storage, the phenomenon of black bean bread surged in popularity on social media.
This vegan black bean banana bread recipe is a fun way to have a tasty and healthy snack, whether you are vegan or not.
It takes about 45 minutes from start to finish and it is simple enough for someone with little to no baking experience to try out.
The recipe
Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. In a medium-sized bowl mix the dry ingredients — 2 cups of flour, 2 teaspoons ground cinnamon, one teaspoon baking soda, 3/4 teaspoon cocoa powder and one tablespoon ground flaxseed. In the blender blend one and a half large ripe bananas, a can of black beans, 1/3 cup of milk, 1/3 cup of maple syrup and 2 teaspoons vanilla extract.
Once it is all mixed in, combine it with the already mixed dry ingredients. At this point, you should have a thick dough.
Put the dough into a bread pan and bake for 30 minutes. Then turn the oven off but leave the bread in for five more minutes, for a total cooking time of 35 minutes. Finally, take the bread out and allow it to cool before eating.
What I thought
The black bean bread tastes like a chocolate banana bread and would be great with the addition of a cup of walnuts. For a finishing touch, top it off with your favorite nut butter or some cream cheese.
This slightly sweet bread will be a hit with even the pickiest eaters. It works great as a snack or eaten for breakfast. The recipe could be enough to feed a family of four with little to no leftovers.
This recipe is a great option for those who don’t consume animal products with the ground flaxseed working as a healthy and plant-based egg replacement.
Cooking with black beans may at first seem unappetizing but in the finished product, there is no hint of the bean flavor. The beans add valuable nutrients to the bread including fiber, potassium, and protein which can be hard to get enough of with a vegan or vegetarian diet.
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One thing the beans in the recipe may change is the texture of the bread. It is a bit thicker and chewier than normal banana bread.
This healthy snack is a great way to join the baking craze on social media while making something fun, delicious and healthy.
Loreena Cain is a beat reporter at the Daily Lobo. She can be contacted at culture@dailylobo.com or on Twitter @loreena_cain
