18 Healthy Black Bean Substitutes for Baking at Home

It’s always tough to resist tempting, sugary treats. However, they are generally high in calories and include harmful substances like wheat.

Fortunately, culinary experts have been researching on discovering healthier substitutes to use in baking. Black beans are an excellent health replacement.

If you run out of black beans, try kidney beans, chickpeas, soya beans, navy beans, red beans, Great Northern beans, lentils, black-eyed peas, and dried black beans as alternatives. If you don’t have any of them, some wonderful substitutions are avocado, pumpkin, cauliflower, ground soy, pecans, peas, pinto beans, sorghum, soybeans, tempeh, and tofu.

Although it may seem frightening, pureed black beans may be used to substitute flour and are also delicious! If you want to learn more about what may be used as a replacement for black beans, keep reading.

What Can Replace Black Beans In A Recipe?

Black beans are legumes that are also known as turtle beans due to their resemblance to a hard shell. Black beans, like other legumes, are noted for their high fiber and protein content.

They include crucial vitamins and minerals that are beneficial to your health. They are also beneficial for bone health, diabetes management, digestion, weight reduction, blood pressure control, and the prevention of heart disease and cancer.

When you run out of this beneficial nutrient, here are some alternatives.

Kidney Beans

Kidney beans have a similar origin to black beans and are used in a variety of cuisines. They are the ideal black bean alternative because they have a meaty and rich feel that is comparable to black beans.

Another resemblance is their health advantages, since they are high in protein, vitamins, minerals, and other nutrients. It helps with weight reduction, blood sugar regulation, and intestinal health.

When opposed to the bland taste of black beans, kidney beans have more flavor and a hint of sweetness. They are not only the finest, but they are also extremely common and simple to find.

Chickpeas

Chickpeas are one of the first legumes to be grown and one of the finest black bean alternatives. They have a high fiber content, potassium, vitamins, protein, calcium, and iron content.

It aids in weight control, digestion, and may lower the risk of numerous ailments. Chickpeas have a grainier texture and a somewhat nutty taste that isn’t overbearing.

They have a neutral taste and may be used in practically any baking recipe that calls for beans.

Soy Beans

Soy beans have long been used in both unfermented and fermented foods, including soy milk, tofu, fermented bean paste, natto, tempeh, and others. They are rich in protein and a healthy source of carbohydrates and fat.

They also include a variety of minerals and vitamins that are good for your health and may even help with menopausal symptoms. Soya beans have a mild taste comparable to black beans and a little harder texture.

It absorbs flavors from other foods well, making it a superb alternative for black beans.

Navy Beans

Navy beans are native to America and were a mainstay of the US Navy in the 1800s to provide sailors with a nutritious diet.

They may seem to be regular beans, but they are packed with several health advantages such as diabetes prevention, improved digestion, blood circulation, and more.

They absorb flavors well, similar to soy beans, and make an excellent alternative for black beans.

With their creamy texture and mild taste, they are comparable to Great Northern Beans (which also feature on our list!).

Red Beans

Red beans are a smaller bean that is not the same as kidney beans. They are more reddish in hue than kidney beans and have a smoother texture.

They are a fantastic source of many vitamins and minerals that your body need, and they may help enhance your general health and lessen your risk of many ailments.

When cooked, red beans are creamy and soft, exactly like black beans, making them a great substitute for black beans.

Great Northern Beans

Great Northern beans are large white beans with several health advantages. They are high in vitamins like B vitamins and minerals like potassium, iron, copper, magnesium, phosphorus, and manganese.

Great Northern beans are nutty yet mild, allowing them to absorb multiple tastes readily, similar to black beans.

[Related Article: Can You Freeze Baked Beans?]

Lentils

Lentils are legumes that resemble little beans in a pod. They are abundant in fiber and protein, which may aid with heart health, pregnancy, and exhaustion, as well as a variety of extremely nutritional minerals.

The texture will be different from black beans, and you may need to boil them differently to utilize in your recipe, but it is still a fantastic choice if you want to add a stronger flavor to your dish.

Black-eyed Peas

Black-eyed peas, often known as cowpeas, are farmed all over the globe. They are rich in nutrients such as vitamin A and fiber, which aids digestion.

The component may also aid in the reduction of blood pressure and cholesterol. When cooked, black-eyed peas have a solid and thick texture that softens to tender and soft.

Its flavor complements many dishes and should be considered if you run out of black beans in your kitchen.

Dried Black Beans

Dried black beans vary from fresh black beans in that they are more difficult to prepare. They offer comparable health advantages as black beans and may be substituted for black beans in recipes.

They take a little longer to boil before they get soft, so they are a little more inconvenient than black beans, but if you run out of black beans, consider dried black beans.

Avocado

Avocado is a berry with a creamy texture and several health advantages. It is high in minerals and vitamins that are helpful for the heart, vision, digestion, and it is also a natural detoxifier.

If you’re feeling creative (or brave) with your baking, avocado may be used in place of black beans, giving the dish a similar fudge-like consistency.

Canned Pumpkin

Canned Pumpkin sounds like canned pumpkin, however the pumpkins used are not the same as those used to manufacture jack-o-lanterns for Halloween.

They’re produced using a distinct kind of pumpkin called a Dickinson squash, which tastes much superior than field pumpkins. This is why it is excellent for baking.

Canned pumpkin is abundant in vitamin A and is very nutritious, lowering your risk of illness and strengthening your immunity. It provides healthful fiber, similar to black beans.

Cauliflower

Cauliflower is a vegetable in which just the head is consumed. It’s high in minerals like potassium, folate, calcium, and vitamin C, which help with hormonal balance and brain development.

The cauliflower should be mashed into rice or until it resembles rice in texture. This improves the recipe’s taste. They also bake more quickly than black beans.

As a result, it is an excellent substitute for black beans, particularly since it can be used in a variety of cuisines.

Nuts

Using nuts as a replacement for black beans may seem strange, but nuts like walnuts and cashews are exceptionally good substitutes that provide a delightful surprise to your meal.

They include a variety of nutrients, including protein and fiber. They are high in antioxidants, which aid in weight loss, cholesterol reduction, and inflammation reduction.

Walnuts have a moderate flavor that is somewhat sweet, but cashews have a buttery flavor.

Although nuts offer several health advantages, many individuals are allergic to them. If you are sensitive to nuts, use sunflower seeds instead if you can tolerate their strong taste.

Pinto Beans

Pinto beans are distinguished by their speckled appearance, which resembles the light brown markings on a Pinto horse. These beans are legumes that are high in nutrients.

They are high in nutrients including fiber, protein, and carbs, among others. Pinto beans may assist improve blood sugar balance and may aid in heart health and weight reduction.

When cooked, they become light brown and have a nutty flavor. They may provide a distinctive texture to your dish since they are creamier than other beans. It may be used in the same quantities as black beans.

Sorghum

Sorghum is a cereal grain grown all over the globe that is widely used in baking. It is high in vitamins B, magnesium, antioxidants, protein, and other minerals.

It is gluten-free, high in fiber, beneficial to diabetics, supports bone health, assists in weight reduction, and is helpful for the digestive system.

Sorghum is a versatile grain that may be used in lieu of black beans in recipes. Although the flavor may change, it may be mashed after cooking to mimic the texture of black beans.

Tempeh

Tempeh is a fermented soybean cake produced from fermented soybeans. Tempeh has no cholesterol and is an excellent source of iron, fiber, calcium, B vitamins, and other minerals.

They include isoflavones, which contain compounds that aid in the battle against cancer. They also help decrease blood pressure, improve cholesterol, reduce inflammation, protect the heart, and many other things.

It has a nutty flavor and may be used in place of black beans in a variety of dishes. Because it keeps the whole soybean throughout the fermenting process, it provides a number of health advantages.

Tofu

Tofu, commonly known as bean curd, is produced by the coagulation of soy milk. It comes in a number of textures, including ultra firm, extra firm, firm, soft, and silky, and may be used in a variety of recipes.

Tofu is popular among vegetarians and vegans because of its high protein content, ability to decrease cholesterol, and ability to alleviate menopausal symptoms.

It is said to reduce the risk of disorders including cardiovascular disease, type 2 diabetes, renal function, and others. To simulate the texture of black beans in recipes, they may be crushed.