The Instant Pot is my go-to appliance when it comes to beans. Not only does it take much less time, but it’s also extremely hands-off, and it doesn’t require pre-soaking the beans either! Moreover, Instant Pot black beans taste more fragrant than the stove-top version. Today I want to introduce an easy Instant Pot black bean recipe that uses Asian herbs to create very flavorful beans that are delicious by themselves or alongside other dishes. Compared to many other Instant Pot recipes out there, this recipe uses less liquid to create a great balance and a richer result. Instead of creating a pot of blended beans with salty soup, this recipe yields well-seasoned beans with just enough liquid to serve with.
Ingredients
Fresh herbs are key. This recipe uses fresh green onion and ginger to impart a vibrant aroma to the beans.Shaoxing wine adds another layer of flavor. If you do not want to use alcohol in the dish, replace it with soy sauce or skip it all together.Use vegetable broth instead of water. At the end of the cooking, most of the broth will be absorbed by the beans, creating a more delicious result.
Other seasoning options:
Sometimes I add 1 teaspoon of cumin powder to the broth to boost its taste.If you prefer spicy beans, add 1/2 teaspoon to 1 teaspoon of cayenne powder to the broth.
Soaking vs. no-soaking
The biggest merit of the Instant Pot black beans is, they don’t require soaking. So why am I talking about soaking beans? Here are the reasons: How to decide whether or not soak the beans before cooking:
Cooking method
Rinse the beans to remove any dust or dirt, then drain them.Saute the aromatics in the Instant Pot to release their fragrance.Add liquid, beans, and salt.Set up the Instant Pot and let it cook.
That’s it! You’ll need about 5 minutes of active cooking, then the rest of the recipe is hands-free.
How to serve
These Instant Pot black beans are very flavorful by themselves, but here are some great ways to serve them and create a quick, hearty, and healthy meal:
Make a hearty and protein-packed breakfast by serving these black beans with scrambled eggs, sliced tomato, sliced avocado, and hot sauce.Serve the Instant Pot black beans over steamed rice. You can add a sunny-side-up egg and some salsa on the side, to create a light lunch (I ate it as soon as I cooked these beans!).
Add these beans over rice and braised meat (such as pulled pork) or rotisserie chicken to make a more substantial meal. Consider adding homemade chili oil for an extra flavor boost!
More delicious Instant Pot recipes
Instant Pot Chinese Sausage Rice Instant Pot Pork Ribs (Chinese-Style)Instant Pot Oxtail SoupAsian-Style Instant Pot Pulled PorkInstant Pot Eggs (Perfect Hard-Boiled & Soft-Boiled Eggs)Asian Instant Pot Chicken Noodle Soup
If you give this recipe a try, let us know! Leave a comment, rate it (once you’ve tried it), and take a picture and tag it @omnivorescookbook on Instagram! I’d love to see what you come up with. Lilja Walter is a part of the Omnivore’s Cookbook team and worked closely with Maggie to develop and test this recipe.
