Super food is certainly an appropriate phrase to describe black beans. These seeds of legume plants are full of vitamins and fiber, promoting healthiness and fullness. They are a wholesome meal with rice, as filler for burritos, as a base for chili, or mixed with onions, tomatoes, lettuce and cheese for a taco salad. Black beans also go a long way on a budget. We tasted 12 brands of canned black beans, buying low-sodium versions when the option was available. Judges were impressed with a few of the choices we heated up to taste.
Kathy Saunders, Times correspondent