Black Bean Millet Brownies (Gluten-Free)

Black beans are my favorite (say hello to protein and fiber). They are not only delicious but also are quick and easy to cook. I use them in every type of food preparation like rice, soups Black Bean Corn Soup, snacks and salads. The other day, my husband and I were talking about healthy food recipes and habits over dinner. Suddenly, out of the blue, my husband asked me whether desserts can be made of black beans. Then, an idea struck me, that I could make good old fashioned brownies with black beans!! Yes, you heard it right. Doesn’t this sound crazy, out of whack and bizarre?? I too felt the same and about to call off the idea, but my husband encouraged me to think out of box and give it a try. This idea really piqued my interest, I decided to give it a shot to make the brownies completely from scratch, using healthy ingredients wherever possible. This recipe uses black beans, millet flour, eggs and other liquids, which are blended to form a thick batter that is in turn oven-baked. These turned out to be the healthiest, guilt free, gluten-free brownies, I have ever tasted. Hope you will try out this recipe and give your valuable feedback in the comments section. Enjoy and Happy Healthy Cooking!!

Ingredients: Makes approx. 12 pieces
Black Bean Precooked – 1.5 cups (approx) / 15 oz can
Finger Millet Flour / Ragi Flour (gluten free) – ½ cup
Unsweetened Coconut powder – ¼ cup + 1 tablespoon
1 scoop Nutrilite All-Plant Protein Powder (flavorless) – optional
Eggs – 2
Unsweetened Cacao / Cocoa powder – 4 tablespoon
Pitted Dates – 25 pieces
Vanilla extract – ½ teaspoon
Instant Coffee powder – ½ teaspoon (optional)
Pinch of salt
Almond milk – 1 cup + 2 tablespoon
Chopped Walnuts – 1 cup
Sunflower Seeds (unsalted) – for the top layer

Method:
1. To make these delicious guilt free brownies, preheat the oven to 350 degree Fahrenheit (180 degree Celsius).
2. Coat a 8 X 8 inch baking dish with non-stick spray. Keep aside.

3. Pulse all the ingredients along with the almond milk and Nutrilite All-Plant Protein Powder (except walnuts, sunflower seeds & 1 tablespoon of coconut powder) in a blender / mixer until completely smooth.

4. Now, mix in the chopped walnuts into the batter and pour into the baking dish.
5. Sprinkle some sunflower seeds on top and press the seeds with the back of the spoon so that they settle inside the batter.

6. Bake for 45 to 50 minutes until the top and sides of the brownies are set. The inside will still be a bit soft. Insert a tooth pick or knife in the center of the brownie and if it comes clear then the brownie is done.
7. Let the brownie cool down completely then slice into 12 big pieces. Refrigerate until ready to serve.

8. Just before serving sprinkle some dry unsweetened coconut powder (1 tablespoon) and enjoy warm or cold. Consume within 3 days.

Note:
1.Finger Millet / Ragi flour is considered to be gluten free. Millet has the highest level of potassium, calcium and iron.
2. Black beans have good amount of protein and fiber content.
3. Cacao is the purest form of chocolate, which means it is raw and much less processed than the regular cocoa powder. Cacao contains highest source of antioxidants and magnesium. (source: http://www.onegreenplanet.org)
4. Low fat milk can be used instead of almond milk.
5. Sugar can be used instead of Dates or a combination of both will also work well with this recipe.
6. One 12.5 g serving of NUTRILITE All-Plant Protein Powder provides 10 grams of heart healthy protein. It’s 100% vegetarian, dairy free and thus is vegan friendly. It has low fat ( The highlight of this product is its’ flavorless and can be a healthy addition to any type of sweet or savory culinary preparation: omelets, crèches, home baked bagels, corn breads, muffins, stews, soup, healthy juices, shakes and smoothies. If you would like to give this amazing product a try click on the photo below.