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The Thompson Kitchen

Approachable, everyday recipes

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black beans

The best black beans

September 15, 2020 by Gretchen Blazer Thompson

Have you ever been to Frontera Grill in Chicago? It’s a Rick Bayless restaurant, who I’ve loved since watching his cooking show on PBS as a kid. He cooks Mexican food, but not the Americanized Mexican food we’re all used to. He uses meats that aren’t as mainstream like goat, layers unique spices in a way that adds an unparalleled flavor, and has one of the most extensive tequila lists you’ve ever seen. Needless to say, Frontera Grill is one of my favorites and I try to go every time I’m in Chicago.

Whenever I go we tend to get multiple of the seasonal vegetables and appetizers for the table to try a little bit of everything. It sounds funny, but to me the standout is the black beans. The flavors and textures take a simple everyday dish and turn it into something craveable.

I’ve been trying to make something similar at home and while these black beans aren’t the exact same, they have many similarities. So I guess you could say this is my ode to Frontera Grill’s black beans.

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Filed Under: All Recipes, Main, Side, Vegetarian, Weeknight Dinner Tagged With: black beans, burrito, chili, Frontera, lime, red onion, tacos, The Thompson Kitchen, vegetarian

Summer “chop chop”

July 23, 2020 by Gretchen Blazer Thompson

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My mom and I started making “chop chop” years ago.  The name came from the fact that there’s a fair amount of chopping.  We started making it to eat as a dip with tortilla chips, but always ended up eating it with a fork like a salad.  Either way you eat it, it’s delicious!

Chop chop is easy to make all year (just sub thawed frozen corn for fresh), but is even better using fresh summer corn and cherry tomatoes.  I started grilling the corn a few years ago and adds a wonderful depth to the salad.  You technically don’t have to grill it, but I definitely encourage you to!

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Filed Under: All Recipes, Appetizer, Side, Snack, Soup and Salad, Uncategorized, Vegetarian Tagged With: avocado, black beans, chop, chop chop, corn, dip, grilled, salad, tomatoes

Chili Lime Shrimp Tacos

September 18, 2017 by Gretchen Blazer Thompson

I like to call these tacos a “formula meal.”  Almost every time I cook, I try to make enough to have leftovers.  This way Rich and I can eat it for lunch or dinner the next day.

These tacos use leftovers of my chili lime roasted shrimp and slow cooker black beans.  All I had to do was saute some peppers and onions, and heat the tortillas and dinner is served.

Shrimp + black beans + sauteed veggies + tortilla = dinner.

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Filed Under: All Recipes, Main Tagged With: black beans, chili, lime, onion, pepper, roasted, shrimp, tacos, The Thompson Kitchen

Slow Cooker Black Beans

September 13, 2017 by Gretchen Blazer Thompson

Do you use a slow cooker (Crockpot)?  Rich and I got one last Christmas and I’m surprised by how much I use it.  I mainly make soups in it, but lately I’ve been making black beans.

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Filed Under: All Recipes, Main, Side, Vegetarian Tagged With: bay leaf, black beans, crockpot, cumin, dried, slow cooker, The Thompson Kitchen

Upgraded Black Beans and Brown Rice

August 14, 2017 by Gretchen Blazer Thompson

As much as I love to cook, I’m always on the hunt for new dinner recipes that are quick, flavorful, and delicious.  Bonus points for recipes that make enough to have leftovers for lunch the next day.  Enter this recipe for black beans and brown rice.

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Filed Under: All Recipes, Main, Vegetarian Tagged With: bell pepper, black beans, brown rice, chili powder, cumin, rice

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