Spicy Dominican-Style Black Bean Stew

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

Hearty black bean stew simmered with smoky spices and fresh herbs, perfect as a flavorful vegan main or side dish. This Latin American-inspired vegan recipe, ready in about 100 minutes, pairs black beans, olive oil, yellow onion for a weeknight-friendly dinner that comes together with one pan and minimal cleanup. Each serving lands at about 220 calories and feeds 6, 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

• 2 cups dried or 4 cups cooked black beans
• 2 tbsp olive oil
• 1 medium, diced yellow onion
• 1 medium, diced green bell pepper
• 4, minced garlic cloves
• 1 tsp cumin powder
• 1 tsp smoked paprika
• 1 tsp dried oregano
• 1 bay leaf
• 4 cups vegetable broth
• 2 tbsp tomato paste
• 1/4 cup, chopped fresh cilantro
• to taste salt
• to taste black pepper
• 1/4 tsp optional red chili flakes

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Instructions

1. Step 1: If using dried beans, soak 2 cups black beans overnight and cook until tender, about 1 hour; drain and set aside. If using cooked beans, rinse 4 cups cooked beans.
2. Step 2: Heat 2 tbsp olive oil in a large pot over medium heat. Add 1 diced medium yellow onion and 1 diced medium green bell pepper, sauté for 5 minutes until softened.
3. Step 3: Stir in 4 minced garlic cloves, 1 tsp cumin powder, 1 tsp smoked paprika, 1 tsp dried oregano, and 1/4 tsp red chili flakes (if using), cooking for 1 minute until fragrant.
4. Step 4: Add 2 tbsp tomato paste and cook for 2 minutes, stirring frequently to deepen flavor.
5. Step 5: Pour in 4 cups vegetable broth, add 1 bay leaf, and 2 cups cooked black beans. Bring to a gentle simmer and cook uncovered for 30 minutes until the stew thickens.
6. Step 6: Remove bay leaf, season with salt and black pepper to taste, and stir in 1/4 cup chopped fresh cilantro before serving.