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    Home » Lunches and quick-cook meals

    By Emily Leary. Last updated Apr 10, 2022. Green links are Amazon links. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

    Black bean taco cups

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    These black bean taco cups are so easy to make, the kids can take the lead and make a healthy, delicious family meal.

    These black bean & rice open-faced tacos are delicious and easy to make with kids, thanks to Ben's Beginners!

    Last week, JD, Jay and I took our first lesson with Ben’s Beginners, a global initiative from Uncle Ben’s, aimed at getting kids and families cooking together and having fun while developing a lifelong, good relationship with food.

    These Black bean taco cups are so easy to make, the kids can take the lead and make a healthy, delicious family meal.

    Again, the steps are really easy to follow with a nice, large visual to follow.

    Ben's Beginners from Uncle Ben's

    The kids clicked through each stage and JD (8) read the instructions to J (4) and I, so that we knew all the stages to expect before we got started.

    Having had the recipe so clearly explained to them through the Ben's Beginners hub, they both felt confident and keen to get started.

    Here's how we got on...

    Ingredients

    • 250 g (8.8 oz) Uncle Ben’s® Mexican Style Express Rice®
    • 6 20cm corn tortillas
    • 400g canned black beans canned
    • 340g sweetcorn canned
    • 400 g (14.1 oz) fresh tomatoes diced
    • 60 g  cheddar shredded (vegetarian if required)
    • 1 avocado peeled, stoned and thinly sliced
    • 10 g (0.4 oz) fresh coriander (cilantro) chopped
    • 25 g (0.9 oz) olives chopped

    Equipment

    • Weighing scales
    • Measuring spoons
    • Kitchen knife
    • Chopping board
    • 12-hole muffin tray
    • Spoon
    • Grater
    • Mixing bowl

    Instructions

    Turn a 12-cup muffin tin upside down. Nestle 6 corn tortillas in the space between the cups to form a “bowl.” Kids will enjoy helping form the bowls. We found that the corn tortillas are a little easier to mould if you heat them slightly in the microwave for 30 seconds to soften. This is quite a fiddly job for young hands, but JD (8) did a great job with just a little help from me, and it was a chance to talk through why some foods crack while others bend and so on.

    Preparing the taco cups for cooking

    Bake in a pre-heated oven at 190°C/375°F until firm and beginning to brown, about 10-15 minutes. Transfer to a wire rack to cool - a grown up job, of course.

    Cook Uncle Ben’s® rice according to directions on the pack. We used the microwave, which takes only 2 minutes. Again, handling while hot is a grown up job, but the kids can help press the buttons on the microwave, if appropriate.

    Uncle Ben's special mexican style rice

    While the rice is still warm, transfer to a large bowl.

    Cooked mexican style rice

    Mix in black beans, corn, tomatoes and 2 tablespoons cheese. Let your children be in charge of sprinkling the cheese into the mixture. JD and J loved taking it in turns to tip everything in. As I'd pre-measured all of the ingredients, there weren't any delays that might have meant they lost interest, we were just able to happily get on with having fun cooking.

    Mixing in the taco ingredients, starting with tomatoes
    Mixing in the taco ingredients, adding sweetcorn

    We enjoyed talking about each ingredient as we tipped it in. Good questions to discuss include the colour, texture and flavour of the ingredient, and it's nutritional benefits. They can even pick up and eat a piece of corn, or squash a black bean between their fingers to explore further.

    Mixing in the taco ingredients, adding black beans
    Mixing in the taco ingredients, adding grated cheese
    Stirring the taco filling

    This is JD putting their stirring skills into practice - great work, I think you'll agree and actually, it was easier to communicate how to stir properly because I could refer back to the lesson we'd just completed.

    Children can help stir the taco filling
    Finished black bean & rice open-faced tacos filling!

    Fill the shells with the rice and bean mixture. This was another activity easily shared between the kids - three taco cups to fill each. It was also a great chance to discuss what it means to share equally and how to judge volume by eye.

    Spooning the mix into taco shells to create black bean & rice open-faced tacos

    Top evenly with remaining cheese. We call this "sprinkly fingers".

    Topping the tacos with grated cheese

    Let the little chefs add their favourite toppings like avocado, coriander, or olives. If your children are reluctant to try unusual veg, this can be a great way to encourage them, as they get hands on and enjoy adding the contrasting colours. J enjoyed the avocado best and noted it felt slippery in her hands.

    Topping the black bean & rice open-faced tacos with avocado and sliced olives

    And these are the finished cups. The kids did a beautiful job, don't you think? And we really enjoyed our cooking session together.

    Black bean & rice open-faced tacos served with avocado and tomatoes

    Visit the Ben's Beginners website now to get started on your own learning journey, check out Uncle Ben's on Facebook, and share your creations with #LookWhatWeMade on your preferred social media.

    Are you thinking of trying this recipe at home?

    Print this black bean taco cups recipe

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    5 from 1 vote

    Black Bean Taco Cups

    These black bean taco cups are so easy to make, the kids can take the lead and make a healthy, delicious family meal.
    Prep Time10 mins
    Cook Time10 mins
    Total Time20 mins
    Course: Lunches and quick-cook meals
    Cuisine: Mexican
    Diet: Vegetarian
    Servings: 6 taco cups
    Author: Emily Leary

    Ingredients

    • 250 g (8.8 oz) Uncle Ben’s® Mexican Style Express Rice®
    • 6 20cm corn tortillas
    • 400g canned black beans canned
    • 340g sweetcorn canned
    • 400 g (14.1 oz) fresh tomatoes diced
    • 60 g  cheddar shredded (vegetarian if required)
    • 1 avocado peeled, stoned and thinly sliced
    • 10 g (0.4 oz) fresh coriander (cilantro) chopped
    • 25 g (0.9 oz) olives chopped

    Equipment

    • Weighing scales
    • Measuring spoons
    • Kitchen knife
    • Chopping board
    • 12-hole muffin tray
    • Spoon
    • Grater
    • Mixing bowl

    Instructions

    • Turn a 12-cup muffin tin upside down. Nestle 6 corn tortillas in the space between the cups to form a “bowl.” Kids will enjoy helping form the bowls.
    • Bake in a pre-heated oven at 190°C/375°F until firm and beginning to brown, about 10-15 minutes. Transfer to a wire rack to cool.
    • Cook Uncle Ben’s® rice according to directions on the pack.
    • While the rice is still warm, transfer to a large bowl.
    • Mix in black beans, corn, tomatoes and 2 tablespoons cheese. Let your children be in charge of sprinkling the cheese into the mixture.
    • Fill the shells with the rice and bean mixture.
    • Top evenly with remaining cheese.
    • Let the little chefs add their favourite toppings like avocado, coriander, or olives.

    Video

    Nutrition

    Calories: 370kcal | Carbohydrates: 58g | Protein: 15g | Fat: 11g | Saturated Fat: 3g | Cholesterol: 11mg | Sodium: 149mg | Potassium: 828mg | Fiber: 12g | Sugar: 5g | Vitamin A: 967IU | Vitamin C: 25mg | Calcium: 151mg | Iron: 3mg
    * Note: nutritional information is estimated, based on publicly available data. Nutrient values may vary from those published. Information on this website should not be taken as medical advice. Cuisines identify the primary region of inspiration for a dish.
    Tried this recipe?Snap a pic and tag @amummytoo on Instagram or tag @EmilyLearyCooks on Twitter. I can't wait to see your posts!

    This is a commissioned post for Uncle Ben's. Recipe courtesy of Uncle Ben's, imagery by Emily Leary. 

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    More great rice recipes to try

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    Get the recipe
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    Pea and Mint Risotto
    This simple pea and mint risotto is perfect for spring, made with arborio rice, flavoured with butter, stock, garlic and parmesan and brightened with fresh mint, garden peas and sugar snap peas. It's easy to make and tastes as fresh as it looks.
    Get the recipe

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    1. Winnie says

      September 18, 2016 at 11:54 am

      WOWWWW
      These are awesome, look soooooo inviting!
      I like this easy recipe,
      I'm hungry now after looking at your beautiful photos

      Reply

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