Why does nobody talk about using canned beans as a base for random fridge stir fries?

I was at a friend's place last week in Austin and they had nothing but a half onion, some wilted spinach, and a can of black beans. She threw it all in a pan with cumin and it was actually good, not just edible. But then I tried it at home with chickpeas and leftover bell peppers and it came out bland. So is it the bean type or the seasoning that makes or breaks this? Has anyone else found a go-to combo that works every time with random fridge odds and ends?

2 comments

2 Comments

iris_mason8819d ago

Read cumin and smoked paprika are the secret, not beans.

-1

luna_green19d ago

Heard a story once from a friend who ran a chili contest. She kept her recipe totally secret for years. Then someone guessed the cumin and paprika combo in the first bite. She was so mad she almost dumped the whole pot on the ground. Beans are good filler but those spices really do make the magic happen.