Black Beans are Back!

Medicinal & Digestible Black Beans

This recipe creates about 1L of Beans. I create extra for the next night! 

Black beans are back!! They are one of my favorite foods! They were my main source of protein being raised as a vegetarian. Last year I gave them up due to lack of digestibility and nutritional purpose. After being introduced to Chinese Medicine and understanding their benefits, I’m reincorporating them into my diet!

Why these herbs? Chaga is a Jing herb, great for turning on the higher immune system and is highly adaptogenic. In Chinese medicine Rehmannia and Ho Shu Wo are prepared with black beans to enhance their medicinal quality. The treasure of these herbs, and the black beans, are their “Jing” enhancing qualities. Stress, overworking and exhaustion fatigues the adrenals, which depletes the kidneys. Over time drained kidneys, which are the storehouse of your essential life force, leads to premature aging and low energy. Black foods are full of JING which nourish and rebuild your essential energy. Who ever thought beans could be medicine? A great source for these herbs is http://mountainroseherbs.com/

Ingredients:

• 1lb of Organic Black Beans (the fresher the beans more they will expand when the sprout and the higher quantity they will produce)
• 2 Cloves Garlic
• 1 Sweet Onion
• 1 Jalapeno
• 2 Tomatoes
• 1T Cumin Powder
• 1T Chili Powder
• 1 Chaga chunk
• 2-3 Rhemannia chunks (You can add the chunks to the beans after you brew them and eat them!)
• A handful of Ho Shu Wo

Process & Purpose:

By soaking beans for 8-10 hours it breaks down the compounds that cause flatulence. It also begins to sprout them, making them more digestible.  A few hours before placing the beans in the crock pot, brew about a half gallon of tea using: Rehmannia, Ho Shu Wo and Chaga Mushroom. When the beans are done soaking, pour them into the crockpot with the tea blend, cook on low for about 36 hours or until soft.  A few hours before serving, while the beans are still brewing, add in the spices and vegetables and let simmer. I make fresh guacamole and pico de gallo, and create lettuce wraps with the beans!