Low Fat Black Bean Brownies

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Ever since I first came across the idea of using cooked beans in brownies, I have been wanting to try it. At that time I was just casually browsing the net when this recipe of brownies made with cooked chickpeas caught my eye, and even though it has been a couple of years since then, this idea remained with me. I was a little skeptical about the taste of chickpeas in brownies and wasn't sure the rest of the ingredients would disguise the presence of beans in this recipe. That said it was such an interesting idea and so much more healthier than traditional brownies that I couldn't resist trying it.

A few weeks back I decided I wanted to try brownies with chickpeas in them. A quick search online did not seem to pull up any recipes with chickpeas, but this one on food network sounded interesting and doable. I tweaked the recipe a little, reduced the quantity of oil by half and used applesauce instead and used flax meal to substitute for eggs. The resulting brownies were "oh so delicious".  R couldn't believe it when I told him the star ingredient in the brownies were black beans, he kept marveling at how it seemed just it was made with just regular flour and the black beans was not discernible at all.  This recipe is definitely a keeper and I have already made these brownies a couple of times since the first time I made it:)

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Ingredients and Method to make Black Bean Brownies
1/3 cup all purpose flour (maida)
1/2 tsp salt
3/4 tsp baking powder
1/4 cup cocoa powder (unsweetened)
1/2 cup semi sweet chocolate chips divided (use vegan chocolate chips for a vegan version)
3/4 cup black beans (cooked) (if using canned rinse thoroughly)
2/3 cup sugar + 2 tbsp sugar
1/2 tbsp instant coffee powder
2 tbsp flax seed meal (powdered flax seeds/ alsi/ ali virai) + 6 tbsp water
1/4 cup applesauce
1/4 cup oil

Pre heat oven to 350 deg F
Grease a 9" X 9" pan and keep aside

In a small bowl, mix together all purpose flour, baking powder, salt and cocoa powder well and keep aside.

In a microwave safe bowl, add half the semi sweet chocolate chips, place in the microwave and heat on 50% power for a couple of minutes or until it melts. Keep this aside.

Mix flax seed meal with water and whisk together until it gets gelatinous and keep aside.
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In a food processor place the black beans and pulse until the beans are pureed. Add  flax seed meal+ water mixture, applesauce and pulse until it mixes well. Add sugar, coffee powder, oil, melted chocolate and pulse until it mixes well.

Then add the all purpose flour + cocoa powder mixture and pulse only until it mixes into the wet mixture. Do not over mix or over pulse at this point. Finally add the balance of the chocolate chips (the whole ones) and mix once or twice.

Pour this into prepared 9X9 pan and place in the oven to bake.


Bake approximately 20 to 22 minutes or until the edges of the brownie begin to get a slightly matte finish.
Cool thoroughly for at least 15 minutes, then cut into square pieces.

Serve warm with a scoop of vanilla ice cream if you like it that way or just enjoy this on its own :)