Spicy Black Beans and Polenta


3.9 of 5 (22)
editors choice
Nutritional Info
  • Servings Per Recipe: 4
  • Amount Per Serving
  • Calories: 218.9
  • Total Fat: 8.1 g
  • Cholesterol: 0.0 mg
  • Sodium: 690.7 mg
  • Total Carbs: 33.9 g
  • Dietary Fiber: 7.3 g
  • Protein: 7.3 g

View full nutritional breakdown of Spicy Black Beans and Polenta calories by ingredient


Introduction

Low on carbs, fat, and calories, and high on flavor, this quick and easy meal will fill you right up. Low on carbs, fat, and calories, and high on flavor, this quick and easy meal will fill you right up.
Number of Servings: 4

Ingredients

    1 can low sodium black beans (do not drain)
    1 tube pre-cooked polenta
    1/2 medium-sized yellow onion, minced
    2 cloves garlic, minced
    1 tsp chicken bouillon
    1 tsp hot chili oil
    2 tbsp extra light olive oil for cooking

Directions

Heat large pan over medium heat.
Add onion and garlic; cook until slightly browned (no oil - stir frequently and add water as necessary).
Stir in entire can of black beans, including water; add bouillon and chili oil.
Cover and let simmer, stirring occasionally, until beans are tender.
Turn off heat and allow to sit at least ten minutes, covered.
Heat olive oil in small non-stick pan.
Slice polenta 1/2" thick; fry in oil until edges are browned.
Blot with paper towel to remove excess oil.
Spoon beans over polenta, and enjoy!
One serving is approximately 2.5 1/2" slices of polenta with 1/2 cup of beans. Watch your sodium for the rest of the day!

Number of Servings: 4

Recipe submitted by SparkPeople user CHENAPAN.

Member Ratings For This Recipe


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    Very Good
    11 of 11 people found this review helpful
    Homemade polenta with peppers, mushrooms, zucchini and spinach, all sauteed make this dish fantastic. Also, starting with dry beans cuts the sodium to almost nil...way more healthy and heart smart!! - 5/8/08


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    Very Good
    3 of 3 people found this review helpful
    Very good. I skipped the bouillon to make it vegan and added a little hot salt instead. I would have cooked the polenta a little longer than I did, so beware of taking it off too early. It was tasty and filling! Great in a bowl with "Tasty Swiss Chard." - 1/9/09


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    3 of 12 people found this review helpful
    Another name for Polenta is "GRITS" - 5/7/08


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    Very Good
    3 of 4 people found this review helpful
    Sounds really good. I make my own polenta and add roasted red peppers. I also cook my own beans.I don't have hot chili oil, so would add spices of choice to the beans and use vegetable broth instead of chicken broth. You could add some cooked vegetables, and some browned tofu to give it more color - 5/7/08


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    Incredible!
    2 of 2 people found this review helpful
    This was really good. It was the first time I ever frien polenta, I typically bake it but nonetheless it was good. I also added a couple dashes of hot sauce, red pepper flakes and about a 1/4 tsp of red chili powder, YUM! I will definitely make this again! - 10/14/08


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    2 of 4 people found this review helpful
    This really shouldn't be in the vegan section, but beyond that it's really just the same old way to cook black beans. - 5/7/08


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    2 of 3 people found this review helpful
    This is not a Vegan recipe! Chicken broth would have to be replaced with Vegetable broth... Also, I would try with homemade Polenta. - 5/7/08


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    2 of 2 people found this review helpful
    Nutrition info on SP isn't exact people! Check your labels. Sounds great AND healthy, although not vegan. (True vegans wouldn't use chicken boullion - I'll have to figure out a substitute.) Will definitely try!! - 5/7/08


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    1 of 1 people found this review helpful
    My son has become a vegetarian while away at college. I'll try this when he comes home this summer, substituting vegetable bullion for chicken and fixing black beans from dried beans instead of using canned. May even look for a polenta recipe to make at home. - 3/20/11


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    Very Good
    1 of 1 people found this review helpful
    I left out the boullion and added some cumin instead. I also added extra pepper flakes for more kick. It was delicious! - 9/9/10


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    Incredible!
    1 of 2 people found this review helpful
    This looks good. I'm going to look for a polenta recipe though. I also would not use the bouillon - too much sodium. I would use a low sodium chicken stock (veggie stock, if vegan) - 7/5/10


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    1 of 3 people found this review helpful
    Question asked......What is Polenta......
    Polenta is made with yellow or white corn meal....can be made into a soft mush or firmer ....served as a side dish
    - 5/7/08


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    Very Good
    Just made this for lunch. Changed it up a tad. Did drain and rinse the beans. Added some salsa verde along with the onion and garlic. Otherwise made as is. I think it good and filling. You can always adjust with spices to your own taste. Sure is quick and easy. Good over brown rice too. - 9/16/13


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    Incredible!
    Rinsing and draining canned beans reduces the sodium by about 40%. Replace with 1/4 C low sodium salsa. I like to saute finely diced canned chipotle peppers in adobo sauce (found on mexican food aisle) with the onion and garlic. Beans also good in taco salads or lightly mashed in tacos & burritos - 9/6/12


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    0 of 1 people found this review helpful
    What is chili oil? - 3/28/11


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    Very Good
    0 of 2 people found this review helpful
    yummy - 3/20/11


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    0 of 1 people found this review helpful
    Thanks for posting. I will try this using the polenta I bought a while back. To cut the sodium I will leave out the chicken boullion. As far as the fat, 8 grams is not a lot for a whole meal and with the olive oil most of it is "good" fat. - 3/20/11


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    0 of 1 people found this review helpful
    I have never tried Polenta, but my family likes to try new things, so we will give it a try. - 3/20/11


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    Very good... - 3/20/11


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    alright . my hubby is only eating this if forced . I like it . easy meatless meal . - 3/20/11


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    0 of 1 people found this review helpful
    What is polenta? - 3/20/11


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    I just bought Polenta a couple weeks ago--didn't know what to do with it--This was easy toake and yummy-- - 3/20/11


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    Interesting taste. - 3/20/11


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    Very Good
    yummy - 3/20/11


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    0 of 1 people found this review helpful
    im going to try this, i can rember my grandma making this when i was a little girl. and i loved it - 7/26/10


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    0 of 1 people found this review helpful
    I think I'll make this with dry beans, skip the boullion, add the tofu and serve alongside a green veggie. I will also have to check out quinoa polenta - never heard of it! Thnks everyone for sharing! - 7/13/10


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    Very Good
    Used a combination of beans and pulses, as well as mushrooms - polenta is such a good basic tool and you can pretty much anything to it. - 6/29/10


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    0 of 2 people found this review helpful
    I like quinoa polenta. - 1/7/10


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    0 of 2 people found this review helpful
    will try it tonight! - 7/17/09


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    Good
    0 of 1 people found this review helpful
    tasty - 5/9/08


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    0 of 7 people found this review helpful
    0 - 5/8/08


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    0 of 1 people found this review helpful
    tasty - 5/7/08


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    Good
    0 of 2 people found this review helpful
    good - 5/7/08


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    0 of 1 people found this review helpful
    what is polenta,explain please - 5/7/08


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    0 of 2 people found this review helpful
    Sounds great, definatley something to try! - 5/7/08


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    0 of 1 people found this review helpful
    what's polenta? - 5/7/08


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    0 of 4 people found this review helpful
    not something I'd plan to make. - 5/7/08


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    All the family liked it. - 5/7/08


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    Very Good
    0 of 1 people found this review helpful
    The high sodium is because of the bouillion. You can find low sodium black beans. I'd drain the beans, add some low fat chicken broth or stock instead. Sounds pretty yummy. - 5/7/08


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    very enjoyable with the polenta and filling - 5/7/08


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    0 of 1 people found this review helpful
    This sounds like something I'd like to try with homemade polenta. Sodium seems high - maybe could lower that by draining and rinsing the beans? Just a suggestion. - 5/7/08


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    0 of 3 people found this review helpful
    Fat content too high for me :( - 5/7/08


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    Good
    tasty - 5/7/08


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    Very Good
    High in protein and fiber. Works just as well with homemade polenta instead of pre-made. - 3/14/07