Alison is a registered dietitian, board-certified in oncology nutrition, and a cancer thriver. Her expertise in oncology nutrition and personal experience with her own cancer diagnosis and its treatment provide her with the unique perspective of being able to relate to her clients on an entirely different level. Her content is consistently focused on evidence-based guidelines and seeks to increase the awareness of the power of nutrition to complement traditional cancer therapies.
I still remember the first time I made this recipe. I was nervous.
Why?
I thought to myself, “Can you really make enchiladas taste like the real deal without cheese, meat, and oil?” Plus, making homemade enchilada sauce seemed like a daunting task.
I soon found out I had nothing to worry about. These bean enchiladas were a hit! And the sauce… so much easier than I thought!
But before we dive into the recipe, I want to address the main ingredient of our enchiladas…beans. I have had a handful of people ask how my tummy “reacts” with beans. You know what I mean, right?
Beans, beans, the musical fruit
The more you eat, the more you toot
Interesting enough, dairy products are actually the main culprit of flatulence (are you good if I call it that? It seems more… sophisticated, right?) due to the poor digestion of lactose. (1)
When researchers added a ½ cup of beans to people’s diets, the majority experienced no symptoms. For those who did experience gas, 70% or more reported less by the second or third week of the study. (1)
If you are still nervous about the intake of beans, or have experienced issues in the past, be sure to drink plenty of water. And since it is recommended to aim for 3 servings of beans a day (1 serving = ½ cup cooked), it’s good to slowly introduce them into your diet if you’re not quite there yet.
Why are beans highly encouraged? Because beans are associated with (1):
- Slimmer waist
- Lower blood pressure
- Improving the regulation of blood sugar, insulin levels, and cholesterol
- Helping to reduce the risk of stroke, depression, and colon cancer
- & more
Bring on the beans!
Wholesome Bean Enchiladas
Makes 8 Enchiladas | Prep Time ~30 Minutes | Bake Time 25 Minutes
Recipe Adapted from The Garden Grazer
enchilada ingredients
1 onion, diced
1 red bell pepper, diced
3 cloves fresh garlic, minced
2 tablespoons of water
1, 15 ounce can black beans, drained and rinsed
1, 15 ounce can garbanzo beans (or, chickpeas), drained and rinsed
1, 15 ounce can of diced tomatoes, drained (or, 1 pint of grape tomatoes, quartered)
1/2 cup hemp hearts
1/3 cup nutritional yeast
2 teaspoons cumin
1 teaspoon paprika (smoked paprika if you have it!)
Salt and pepper, to taste
8 whole-wheat flour tortillas, or sprouted-grain tortillas
sauce ingredients
¼ cup whole wheat flour (or gluten-free)
½ teaspoon chili powder
¼ teaspoon garlic powder
¼ teaspoon onion powder
¼ teaspoon paprika (smoked paprika if you have it!)
¼ cup of water
3 cups low sodium vegetable broth
¼ cup tomato paste
2 teaspoon cumin
Salt and pepper, to taste
directions
Let’s start making the sauce so it has time to thicken.
In a small bowl, add flour, chili powder, garlic powder, onion powder, and paprika. Stir.
In a small saucepan on medium heat, add water, tomato paste, flour and spices. Whisk until the tomato paste and water are well combined. You may experience some chunks. Try your best to get most of them out but don’t worry if you are left with a few. This should take about 1 minute.
Next, add the vegetable broth and whisk well. Once well mixed, and smooth, bring the sauce to a light boil. Once it is lightly boiling, reduce to a simmer and cook for 8 minutes (be sure to whisk occasionally during those 8 minutes).
Preheat your oven to 350℉.
While the sauce is thickening, dice your onion, pepper and mince your garlic.
In a large saucepan on medium heat, add your water, onions, peppers and garlic. Be sure to stir so you don’t burn anything. I know, sometimes it’s easier to use oil but it’s not as healthy! Cook for about 8 minutes.
While your sauce is thickening and your vegetables are getting tender, open and rinse your black beans and garbanzo beans.
Don’t forget to stir that sauce.
If you are using canned tomatoes, open and drain. If you decided to use grape tomatoes, cut them in half (or quarter if you prefer your tomatoes petite diced).
Don’t forget to stir that sauce.
Once the onions and peppers are tender, add cumin, paprika, black beans, garbanzo beans, tomatoes, nutritional yeast, and hemp hearts.
Stir well. And cook for about 3 – 5 minutes.
Now try a small sample of BOTH pans. Salt and pepper to taste.
In a non-stick 9” x 13” pan, cover the bottom with a layer of enchilada sauce.
Distribute bean mixture in the center of the tortillas. Roll the tortilla and do your best to tuck in both ends. Place them in a baking dish as you go. Once they are all in there, top with the remaining sauce.
Bake for 25 minutes.
Serve with avocado and fresh cilantro.
Enjoy!
❤️l a u r e n
References
1. Greger, M., MD. (2015). Beans. In How Not to Die: Discover the Foods Scientifically Proven to Prevent and Reverse Disease (p. 283 – 287). New York, NY: Flatiron Books.
