kids encyclopedia robot

Black turtle bean facts for kids

Kids Encyclopedia Facts
Quick facts for kids
Black turtle beans, boiled, with salt
Black Turtle Bean.jpg
Nutritional value per 100 g (3.5 oz)
Energy 552 kJ (132 kcal)
23.71
Sugars 0.32
Dietary fiber 8.7
0.54
Saturated 0.139
Trans 0
Monounsaturated 0.047
Polyunsaturated 0.231
Protein
8.86
Vitamins Quantity
%DV
Vitamin A equiv.
0%
0 μg
Vitamin A 6 IU
Thiamine (B1)
21%
0.244 mg
Riboflavin (B2)
5%
0.059 mg
Niacin (B3)
3%
0.505 mg
Vitamin B6
5%
0.069 mg
Folate (B9)
37%
149 μg
Vitamin B12
0%
0 μg
Vitamin C
0%
0 mg
Vitamin D
0%
0 μg
Vitamin E
6%
0.87 mg
Vitamin K
3%
3.3 μg
Minerals Quantity
%DV
Calcium
3%
27 mg
Iron
16%
2.10 mg
Magnesium
20%
70 mg
Phosphorus
20%
140 mg
Potassium
12%
355 mg
Sodium
16%
237 mg
Zinc
12%
1.12 mg
Other constituents Quantity
Water 65.74 g
Percentages estimated using US recommendations for adults.

The black turtle bean is a small, shiny type of common bean. It's super popular in Latin American cuisine, which means it's eaten a lot in countries like Mexico, Brazil, and Cuba. You can also find it in Cajun cuisine and Louisiana Creole cuisine in the southern United States. Like all common beans, it first came from the Americas, but now people grow and eat it all over the world!

In Indian cuisine, especially Tamil cuisine, it's called karuppu kaaramani. In Maharashtrian cuisine, it's known as Kala Ghevada. People often just call it the black bean (frijoles negros in Spanish; feijão preto in Portuguese). But be careful, because there are other types of black beans too!

Why Black Beans Are Popular

Black beans have a thick, "meaty" texture. This makes them a great choice for vegetarian dishes. You might find them in Mexican-American black bean burritos. They are also a key ingredient in many famous dishes across Latin America.

Black Beans in Latin American Dishes

Black beans are also great in soups. In Cuba, black bean soup is a traditional meal. It's usually served with white rice.

History of Black Beans in the US

Black beans started to be widely grown in what is now the United States after the Mexican–American War (1846–1848). At first, they were mostly grown for their edible pods, like snap peas.

Using Black Bean Water

It's common to keep the water after boiling black beans. This water turns black and can be used as a soup. It's called sopa negra (black soup) or sopa de frijoles (bean soup). You can also use it as a broth (caldo de frijol) or to add flavor and color to other dishes, like gallo pinto.

Natural Colors in Black Beans

Scientists found in 2006 that black turtle beans have special natural colors called anthocyanins in their dried outer skins. These are the same kinds of colors found in blueberries!

Images for kids

See also

Kids robot.svg In Spanish: Frijol negro para niños

kids search engine
Black turtle bean Facts for Kids. Kiddle Encyclopedia.