Awsome Vegetarian Black Bean Nachos

Something we have been focused on this year is eating more meat free meals. We are both meat lovers and neither of us would choose to be a vegetarian. We raise much of our own meat and where we don't we try to make ethical choices. But like most things in life you need to find a balance and for us this means aiming for at least one meat free dinner per week.  Sometimes we miss the mark and some weeks like this week we had two meat free dinners, an omelette and black bean nachos.

The omelette used eggs, silverbeet, spring onions and asparagus from the garden along with capsicum, mushrooms and cheese.  With the glut of eggs we have at the moment it made a quick, healthy and easy meal after a long day at work.

The nachos recipe took a bit longer but was extremely tasty (so tasty that there were no photos taken) and is something we will eat again.  I used 1/2 cup of dried black beans that I had soaked and precooked but you could also use a tin of black beans instead.

Vegetarian Black Bean Nachos

2 Tbsp Olive Oil

1/2 Cup Dried Black Beans

1 Brown Onion finely diced

1/2 Capsicum

1/2 Large Green Chilli finely diced

3 Cloves of Garlic, crushed

1/2 Tsp Cayenne Pepper

1 Tsp Ground Cumin

1 Tsp Oregano

1/2 Tsp Smoked Paprika

1 1/2 Cups of Diced Tomatoes or 1 tin of Diced Tomatoes

1/2 tsp salt

Chopped Coriander leaves to garnish

In a large saucepan cook the onions in the oil over a medium heat for 5 minutes then add the garlic, chilli and capsicum and cook for another 2 minutes.  Then add all your spices (except the salt) and cook for 2 minutes stirring all the time to cook out your spices.  Add your beans, tomato and salt and cook until the mixture has thickened/reduced to your desired consistency.

Serve garnished with coriander with your choice of corn chips, taco shells guacamole, sour cream, jalapenos, fresh tomato salsa, salad or anything else you fancy.

This recipe can easily be doubled or tripled.  You can leave out the chilli if you do not want any heat or increase it if you want it hot.

What vegetarian meals have you made lately?

Do you have a favourite vegetarian meal?