Smokey Silky Kidney Beans with Spinach Swirl I SIMPLi

iNGREDIENTS

For the beans

SIMPLi Extra Virgin Olive Oil

SIMPLi Regenerative Organic Certified® Kidney Beans, soaked overnight and strained

Yellow onion, halved, skin removed

Cloves garlic, skin-on

Dried pasilla chile

Cloves garlic

Dried Mexican Oregano

Ground smoked paprika

Ground cumin

Ground coriander

Quart veggie or chicken broth

Apple cider vinegar

Smoked salt, plus more for serving

Avocado leaf (optional)

Cilantro for serving

¼ cup + 3 tablespoons

1 cup

1

4

2

2

3

1 tablespoon

½ teaspoon

¾ teaspoon

½ teaspoon

1

1 teaspoon

½ teaspoon

1

For the spinach

SIMPLi Extra Virgin Olive Oil

SIMPLi Peruvian Pink Salt

Leek, root-end + green tops removed, sliced in half lengthwise, then sliced into ¼” half moons

Ghee

Bunches mature spinach, root-end removed, washed

2 tablespoons

¼ teaspoon

1

1 tablespoon

2 bunches

iNSTRUCTIONS

Beans

1. Heat a large cast iron pot over medium-high heat. When the pot is hot, add the onion, cut side down, the garlic, and the chiles to the pot. Give the onion 5 minutes to char before flipping it to char on the other side. When the garlic skins are golden brown and the cloves start to soften, remove the cloves to a plate. Remove the chiles when they become fragrant, pliable, and toasty, but before they blacken. Peel the garlic and remove and discard the stem and seeds from the chiles.
2. Lower the heat on the pot to medium. Add 3 tablespoons of [olive oil](/content/collections/oils/products/extra-virgin-olive-oil "Extra Virgin Olive Oil"/index.html) to the pot with the peeled garlic, the onion, and the spices. Sauté for one minute before adding the [beans](/content/collections/heirloom-beans/products/red-kidney-beans "Organic Kideney Beans "/index.html), the broth, cider vinegar, the smoked salt, and the avocado leaf. Bring to a boil, reduce to a simmer, partially cover and cook for an hour and 15 minutes, or until the beans are super tender (don’t worry about some breaking, we are mushing them up in the end anyhow).
3. When the [beans](/content/collections/heirloom-beans/products/red-kidney-beans "Organic Kidney Beans"/index.html) are fully cooked, strain them through a sieve, reserving their liquid. Add the beans to the food processor. (Don’t worry about cleaning the bowl). Purée until smooth, alternating adding the cooking liquid a splash at a time and the remaining ¼ cup of [olive oil](/content/collections/oils/products/extra-virgin-olive-oil "Extra Virgin Olive Oil"/index.html). Process until the texture is creamy and spreadable (it will thicken as it cools).

Spinach Puree

1. While the beans are cooking, prepare the spinach purée. Place a large, deep sauté pan (one with a tight-fitting lid) over medium heat. Add the ghee and the [olive oil](/content/collections/oils/products/extra-virgin-olive-oil "Extra Virgin Olive Oil"/index.html) along with the leeks and sauté until the leeks are soft and start to brown. Stir frequently. Add the spinach and cover. Cook for five minutes, or until the spinach is wilted and soft, but still bright green.
2. Remove the pan from the heat to cool for five minutes. Add the greens and leeks to a food processor with [salt](/content/collections/superfoods/products/peruvian-pink-salt-1 "Peruvian Pink Salt "/index.html) and purée until smooth, scraping down the sides. Add the residual liquid from the pan to the processor and continue to purée until you achieve a baby food-like texture. Remove to a lidded storage container.

Plating

1. Transfer to a serving bowl and swirl the spinach purée in with a spoon. Garnish with fresh cilantro and serve with tortillas or rice.

This two-part recipe makes silky smooth smoky beans that can be served over quinoa or smushed into a tortilla, but also, a bright green spinach purée that can be added to dips, pasta sauces, or in this case, swirled into the beans to give them color and bright flavor. Unlike refried beans, which are mashed and then “fried” in a pan until they are thick, these beans are pureed with [EVOO](/content/collections/oils "https://eatsimpli.com/collections/oils"/index.html) and their cooking liquid so their texture is smooth and glossy. Try this recipe with [SIMPLi Regenerative Organic Certified® Black Beans](/content/collections/regenerative-organic-certified/products/black-beans "Black Beans"/index.html) as well!

Get to know Julia Sherman and her work in our recent [Culinary Tastemakers Spotlight interview!](/content/blogs/collaborations/culinary-tastemakers-spotlight-julia-sherman "Culinary Tastemakers Spotlight interview!"/index.html)