Bean Brownies Without Flour

I have been thinking rather long what my first recipe should be. Okay, it hasn't been that long. Truth to be told after I spent 3 hours of my life setting up of this page, I finally wanted to see the fruits of my work, i.e. my post.

The following recipe can be considered as healthy (okay, it depends on what philosophy of healthy lifestyle you follow) and it is very tasty (my roommate thought that the nuts (which aren't even in it) are the "healthy" element of this cake :)), and thus I told myself: "Why not - the bean brownies!"

Yes, it is true - the beans are the main ingredient. If this is your first contact with such nonsense as the beans in a cake, please, do not be afraid and give it a chance - it is really tasty (provided you like chocolate and cacao - and who doesn't?).

Enough rambling, let's bake.

We will need:

- 250 g of black beans (I have used red beans)

- 20 g (Holland) cacao

- 40 g quick oats

- 1/2 tsp salt

- 100 g agave/maple syrup or honey (if you choose honey, it is no longer vegan- friendly :))

- 1 tsp stevia (if you don't have any, add 20 g of sweetener of your choice stated above) 

- 55 g oil (I used coconut oil)

- 2 tsp vanilla extract

- 1 tsp baking powder 

- 100 - 150 g chopped chocolate (optional HOWEVER...)

- water and baking soda (explanation below :))

The amount of ingredients is for the 21x21 cm baking pan.

Recept v slovenčine

The inspiration for the recipe comes from: http://chocolatecoveredkatie.com/2012/09/06/no-flour-black-bean-brownies/

METHOD:

1. First, we have to find out whether we have a can of beans. I didn't have one so I had to use drain packed beans and we will soak it in water for 8 hours (pour boiling water on the beans so that the water level is 1 cm over beans). Then, I added one tsp baking soda into the water. I changed water three times. 

Maybe you have also read that you have to "activate" legumes prior the consumption (in order to (allegedly) get rid of antinutrients as well as of other rather unpleasant side effects of beans) by soaking legumes for 24.48 hours and adding some sour element (a lemon, apple vinegar), or as other states - by adding baking soda. Anyway, due to the lack of time, I soaked my beans only for 8 hours. 

TIP: 100 g dried beans (if you do not have canned beans) will make for approx. 250 g beans required for this recipe.  

As I had soaked beans in hot water, they were (more or less) soft enough for squashing. If your beans are still hard, just cook them.

2. Subsequently, I combined and blended all ingredients (save for the chocolate chips and the baking powder) with a food processor until completely smooth. 

3. As usually, I added the baking powder at the end.

4. If any left, stir in the chocolate chips.

5. Pour the mixture into baking pan and bake for 15-18 min. at 180 °C/350 F.

These brownies are kinda "unbaked" in the middle (see pictures below). And as I have already mentioned, don't be fooled or repulsed by the beans in it (or by being labelled as vegan). They are yummy!!!

Several attempts to take a decent picture :)