Welcome to the first installment of a new blog series! Each month, Kristen will share a Dietitian’s Choice Recipe. These recipes will cover all sorts of ground, from main dishes and side items to sweet treats and beverages. They’ll also be relevant to the celebrations and “health holidays” of each month and will highlight various cooking techniques, e.g. grill, slow cooker, air fryer, etc., so there will be something for everyone here and there.
First up is a recipe for February, which is well known for both Valentine’s Day—i.e. chocolate— and American Heart Month. Given these two celebrations, what could be better than heart-healthy brownies? Yes, you read that correctly, heart-healthy brownies. To clarify, these brownies contain ingredients that are known to promote heart health, e.g. oats, cocoa, and the feature ingredient—black beans. Yes, you read that correctly, too. These brownies use black beans, and before you click away, know that I’ve taken them to MANY a gathering where they’ve received rave reviews and people are shocked to find out that they have beans in them. Truly.
While black beans, oats, and cocoa are all very different foods, each with its own unique nutrition profile, they’re all high in fiber, which is known to help reduce cholesterol circulating in the blood and therefore reduce the risk of heart disease. They’re also rich in vitamins, minerals, and phytonutrients that help reduce inflammation and promote blood vessel integrity. So, it’s not too much of a stretch to describe these brownies as heart-healthy.
See below for the ingredients for Black Bean Brownies via the Chocolate Covered Katie blog, or click HERE to be taken to the full recipe. These brownies may not be the best for cooking on the truck, but they can be individually wrapped and refrigerated or frozen for future snacking.
Image via Chocolate Covered Katie
INGREDIENTS
1 1/2 cups black beans
2 tablespoons cocoa powder
1/2 cup quick oats
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/3 cup maple syrup, honey, or agave
Pinch uncut stevia OR 2 tablespoons sugar
1/4 cup coconut or vegetable oil
2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract
1/2 teaspoon baking powder
1/2 to 2/3 cup chocolate chips
LINK TO FULL RECIPE: https://chocolatecoveredkatie.com/no-flour-black-bean-brownies/