Most of the Mexican food we eat in popular restaurants is loaded with cheese or sour cream. I do love it, but it is possible to have a simple, fresh and healthier version of Mexican food. Black Bean Burritos are my answer. They are the perfect quick fix for celebrating Cinco De Mayo from the other side of the world.

Black beans or pinto beans are very hard to find here in India. I have scoured gourmet stores for the past few years. If I am lucky, I sometimes find a can of black beans, but it is never a sure thing. Imagine my surprise when I found dry black beans in the local wholesale market! Since then, I have been churning out my Tex-Mex favorites with them. So we had the burrito bowls, black beans & rice, black bean soup, and black beans burritos had to be next.

Just like black beans, good avocados and sour cream are hard to find and also quite expensive. I invested in imported chipotle chilies and this gives me the base for a good sauce every time. I made an almond and chipotle sauce which was so creamy and bold, it was perfect for these black bean burritos.

I cooked the black beans from scratch and then just simmered them with the spices for some time. Grilled onions and peppers are a big fave around here. I added cucumbers to add some volume and for some cooling effect in this heat.

I made the wraps or tortillas myself – not very different from a large chapati. You can of course use any store bought tortilla wraps for this. Grilling the burritos is optional, but I prefer mine that way. You can also add my cilantro lime rice from the burrito bowl post if you want more volume to your black bean burritos.

These black bean burritos look simple but they pack a mean punch with all the veggie goodness and the hearty beans. Serve with my homemade salsa, jalapenos and some lime and cilantro for a burst of fresh flavor.

Vegan Black Bean Burritos Recipe

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Join me in celebrating Mexican food all through May. This is one easy recipe you can try your hand at next time. For a Cinco De Mayo pasta with a Mexican twist, check out MovieRecipe.