Black Bean Enchiladas with Saffron Rice

To me, anything that’s warm, saucy and cheesy with lots of carbs is comfort food. While pasta obviously ticks all those boxes, sometimes I want to switch it up a bit. I love legumes, and wanted to find a way to include more of them in my family’s diet. After all, they are low in calories, high in protein and nutrients, and a great way to do a meatless dinner.

My problem is that my family are meat lovers. To satisfy their love of all things meaty, and my desire for the occasional meat free meal, I came up with a compromise in this recipe. The main protein in this delicious black bean enchiladas dinner is of course beautifully seasoned black beans, however the broth I used in each component in my homemade chicken Yoich. If you want, you can easily make this entirely vegetarian by substituting a good vegetable stock.

These Black Bean Enchiladas with Saffron Rice is sure to become as much of a hit in your home as it is in mine. The beans are sauteed in spices and and broth, before they are wrapped in soft tortillas and smothered with bright and flavourful enchiladas sauce. A bit of cheese grated on top adds some extra richness to the dish, and is beautifully complimented by the light yet savoury saffron rice. Although the final presentation looks fancy and complex, this delicious meal is easily put together in under 30 minutes, making it a great quick meal.

TOTAL TIME

• Preparation Time – 2 minutes
• Cooking Time – 25 minutes
• Total Time – 27 minutes

INGREDIENTS FOR BLACK BEAN ENCHILADAS WITH SAFFRON RICE

All the ingredients for Black Bean Enchiladas and Saffron Rice are easy to source from any local grocer.

Black Beans

• 1 tbsp Extra virgin olive oil
• 2 cans Black beans
• 1 tbsp Chili powder
• 1/4 tsp Garlic powder
• 1/4 tsp Onion powder
• 1/4 tsp Dried oregano
• 1/2 tsp Paprika
• 1 1/2 tsp Ground cumin
• 3/4 tsp Kosher salt
• 1/8 tsp Black pepper
• 3/4 cup Chicken broth, preferably homemade

Enchiladas Sauce

• 3 tbsp Extra virgin olive oil
• 3 tbsp All purpose flour
• 2 tsp Chili powder
• 1 tsp Cumin powder
• 1/2 tsp Garlic powder
• 1/4 tsp Dried oregano
• 1/4 tsp Kosher salt
• 1 pinch Cinnamon
• 2 tbsp Tomato paste
• 2 cups Chicken broth, preferably homemade
• 1 tsp Apple cider vinegar

Saffron Rice

• 1 cup White rice, I use basmati
• 1 1/2 cups Chicken broth, preferably homemade
• 1 pinch Saffron

Black Bean Enchiladas

• 7 Soft flour tortillas
• 1 cup Shredded cheddar

CAN I MAKE THIS LACTOSE OR DAIRY FREE?

Definitely. If the issue is a lactose allergy, I would recommend using a lactose free cheddar (which is what I use to accommodate my husband. If the issue is a dairy allergy, I would suggest a good plant based cheese alternative. I wouldn’t leave out the cheese entirely however, the gooey pull on the top of the enchiladas really helps to make the dish special.

IS TOMATO PASTE THE SAME AS TOMATO SAUCE?

No, they are not the same thing. Tomato paste is made by cooking tomatoes to reduce their water content before straining out the seeds and skin, and then cooking them a second time: resulting in a concentrated, flavourful, paste. Tomato sauce, on the other hand, is cooked tomatoes with the seeds and skin mixed in, and water content remaining. You cannot substitute tomato sauce in this recipe.

INGREDIENT SUBSTITUTIONS

CAN I USE MEAT INSTEAD OF BEANS?

Definitely. If you aren’t a fan of legumes (or there’s an allergy to consider), you can certainly substitute the black beans for ground beef. I would use identical seasoning, and cook in the same way. Just allow a few more minutes to ensure your beef is cooked before you add the seasoning and chicken broth.

CAN I MAKE THIS VEGETARIAN?

Absolutely! Simply use vegetable stock in place of chicken broth in a one to one substitution. As long as you use a flavourful broth, the results will still be delicious.

CAN I USE A DIFFERENT KIND OF OIL?

You can substitute any oil with a high smoke point in this recipe. I like using olive oil because it adds a bit of extra flavour to the black beans.

CAN I USE A DIFFERENT KIND OF TORTILLA?

You can definitely use a different kind of soft tortilla for this recipe. My kids prefer the taste of flour tortillas, but I think a corn or whole wheat tortilla would also be beautiful in this recipe. I wouldn’t recommend a hard shell however: the whole point of this recipe is a soft tortilla smothered in beautiful sauce and cheese.

CAN I USE A DIFFERENT KIND OF RICE?

Absolutely. I use Basmati rice because my family enjoys the fragrant long grains and I always have it in the house, but you could substitute whatever rice you prefer for this recipe.

EQUIPMENT FOR BLACK BEAN ENCHILADAS WITH SAFFRON RICE

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Below is a list of the main equipment/kitchen tools needed to make this Black Been Enchiladas recipe, as well as tools needed to make the Saffron Rice:

• Small Sauce Pan

• Stainless Steel Pan

• Potato Masher

• Wooden Spoon

• Cheese Grater

• Baking Dish

COOKING DIRECTIONS

This Black Bean Enchiladas recipe with Saffron Rice are incredibly easy and quick to prepare. From start to finish, you will have this meal completed in under 30 minutes as long as you follow a few simple tips:

1. Place all the ingredients for your Enchiladas Sauce beside the stove when you start. The sauce comes together very quickly, and it helps to have your spices pre measured.
2. Start the rice at the same time as the sauce so that all the components will be ready at the same time.
3. Don’t forget to turn up the heat and broil the Black Bean Enchiladas before serving. This will give them a beautiful crisp, and golden cheesy top.

MAKE AHEAD STORAGE

This sauce can be prepared in advance, but it will not save you any time because everything can be made simultaneously and completed within 30 minutes.

These Black Bean Enchiladas with Saffron Rice will be good in the fridge for up to four days. If you have leftover enchiladas you can certainly freeze them, however I would not recommend freezing the rice as it will dry out and not taste as delicious when reheated.

FINISHED DISH

Enjoy your delicious Black Bean Enchiladas with Saffron Rice!

OTHER QUICK DISHES

Juicy Bacon Smash Burger

Flavourful Pancetta Pesto Pasta

OTHER DINNER DISHES

Roasted Chicken with Mushroom Farfel

Apricot Chicken Drumsticks

Red Wine Braised Beef Brisket

DID YOU MAKE THIS RECIPE?

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