GET OUR STAR OF THE WEEK EMAIL subscribe

Fun Facts

Take a look at the shiny shell of a black bean. Does it remind you of a turtle? A lot of people think so, and call them turtle beans. Black turtle beans were first eaten thousands of years ago in Peru, and this little bean quickly became a big part of the South American diet. Today these shiny beans are used in Southwestern, South American and Caribbean cooking in everything from black bean brownies to soups, stews and pizza! You'll also find black beans in India, Africa and the Middle East. Black beans became popular in the U.S. after Jennie June's American Cookery Book published a tasty recipe for Black Turtle Bean Soup in 1874.

Star Power

These little turtles are filled with good-for-you stuff. They're high in folate and magnesium which keep your cardio system healthy, and tons of protein and fiber help keep digestion on track. Black beans contain plenty of folate, too, which helps your nervous system produce the amino acids it needs. Hard-working antioxidants help keep your cells protected against free radicals, inflammation and other disease triggers. You can even combine black beans with rice for a complete protein. Did you know that black beans contain so much protein that they're used as a meat substitute?

Quick Preps

PREPARE: From a can: Drain into a colander and rinse. Dried: Place 1 cup dried beans in a bowl. Cover with water and soak overnight, or for at least 6 hours. Transfer to a pot, cover with fresh water, bring to a boil, then simmer for 1 hour.

• Mix with lime juice, tomatoes, chili powder, sea salt and pepper.
• Fold into burritos or add to quesadillas.
• Mix in with taco meat.
• Add to salsa.
• Sprinkle on salads.