Spiced Dominican-Inspired Black Bean Stew

By AislePrompt Editorial · Published 2026-07-10 · Updated 2026-07-10

A hearty, flavorful black bean stew seasoned with aromatic spices and fresh herbs, inspired by Dominican cooking traditions. This Latin American-inspired vegan recipe, ready in about 100 minutes, pairs dry black beans, water, olive oil for a weeknight-friendly dinner that comes together with one pan and minimal cleanup. Each serving lands at about 230 calories and feeds 4, so it slots cleanly into a weekly meal plan and pairs well with a quick salad or grain on the side. Tap "Plan a meal with the AI" below to drop this recipe into your week and send the ingredients straight to Instacart. Nutrition values are approximate, calculated from USDA FoodData Central (fdc.nal.usda.gov) — verify against ingredient labels for any health-driven dietary plan.

Ingredients

• 1 cup dry black beans
• 4 cups water
• 2 tbsp olive oil
• 1 medium, diced yellow onion
• 1 medium, diced green bell pepper
• 4, minced garlic cloves
• 1 tsp ground cumin
• 1 tsp dried oregano
• 1 bay leaf
• 1 1/2 tsp salt
• 1/2 tsp black pepper
• 1/4 cup, chopped fresh cilantro
• 2 tbsp fresh lime juice

The Dutch oven we’d braise this in → Best Dutch Ovens for 2026: Top Picks + Buying Guide

Instructions

1. Step 1: Rinse 1 cup dry black beans under cold water and soak overnight in 4 cups water.
2. Step 2: Drain the beans, then place them in a large pot with 4 cups fresh water. Add 1 bay leaf and bring to a boil over high heat, then reduce to a simmer and cook uncovered for 60-70 minutes until beans are tender.
3. Step 3: While the beans cook, heat 2 tbsp olive oil in a skillet over medium heat. Add 1 diced medium yellow onion and 1 diced medium green bell pepper, sautéing for 5 minutes until softened.
4. Step 4: Add 4 minced garlic cloves, 1 tsp ground cumin, and 1 tsp dried oregano to the skillet and cook for 1 minute until fragrant.
5. Step 5: Once beans are tender, remove bay leaf and stir in the sautéed vegetables along with 1 1/2 tsp salt and 1/2 tsp black pepper. Simmer for another 10 minutes to blend flavors.
6. Step 6: Remove from heat and stir in 2 tbsp fresh lime juice and 1/4 cup chopped fresh cilantro before serving.