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Creamy Black Bean Curry with Coconut Milk (20-Minute Recipe)

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Posted by:

Erin Lynch

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Updated:

April 5, 2025

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5 from 5 votes

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Try this hearty and creamy Black Bean Curry for an easy vegan dinner tonight! Canned black beans are simmered in a fragrant and aromatic coconut milk sauce, leaving you with a comforting meal in just 20-minutes. Perfect for leftovers and freezer meals, too!

Curry served in bowl with sour cream and lime wedges.

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Table of Contents

  • Ingredient notes
  • How to make black bean curry
  • Variations
  • Serving suggestions
  • How to make ahead + store
  • Erin’s wine pairings for curry
  • Full Recipe

Why you’ll love this recipe

Hearty and filling black beans are quickly simmered in a silky smooth coconut curry sauce, giving you a deeply flavorful meal in less than 20 minutes. The best part is that it’s so simple to put together but keeps you full for hours!

Curry dishes always come in handy when you need a simple, yet flavorful meal that will warm you from head to toe. Take my Butternut Squash Curry for example. It’s one of my favorites, boasting rich and warming flavors and nourishing ingredients in every bite.

You’ll find the same in this vegan black bean curry with coconut milk, plus a ton of plant-based protein and fiber!

Reader

Love



5 stars
A great and simple recipe!

–

drift boss

Ingredient notes

Ingredients for black bean curry labeled on tray.

This is not a long and complicated curry recipe. It uses a short list of easy-to-find and affordable ingredients but never skips out on the flavor. This is what you need:

  • Black beans – Canned black beans are the most convenient option. However, for a more robust flavor profile, cook dried black beans either in the Instant Pot or a slow cooker ahead of time.
  • Olive oil
  • Shallots, garlic, and ginger – These aromatics are the backbone of most curry recipes, offering a savory and earthy start to the meal.
  • Whole and ground spices – You need cumin, coriander, whole mustard seeds, turmeric (or try one of these turmeric substitutes), and cayenne.
  • Tomatoes – Dice the tomatoes yourself or keep it easy with canned tomatoes.
  • Coconut milk – Canned full-fat coconut milk is responsible for the meal’s silky-smooth finish and rich consistency. If you have a coconut aversion, feel free to use another plant milk (like soy milk or oat milk), heavy cream, or whole milk instead.
  • Lime juice – Finishing the curry with lime juice is key for balance as it brings all of the flavors together. Try not to skip it!
  • Salt and pepper

How to make black bean curry

  1. Saute the aromatics: Heat the oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Once it’s hot, add the shallots and cook until they’re starting to soften. Add the garlic, ginger, and spices next. 
  2. Add ingredients: Once the aromatics and spices are fragrant, add in the tomatoes. Next, add the black beans and coconut milk.
  3. Simmer: Reduce the heat and let the curry simmer until the liquid reduces slightly and thickens. 
  4. Enjoy: Finish with a spritz of lime juice and some salt and pepper to taste. Ladle the black bean curry over a bed of rice with your favorite garnishes on top, then enjoy!
Close up of curry in skillet with spoon.
Black bean coconut curry ingredients on counter.

Variations

  • Instead of black beans – Use canned or cooked chickpeas, pinto beans, cannellini beans, or kidney beans. Even lentils would be a delicious and protein-packed substitute.
  • Add more heat – Saute diced jalapeno or serrano peppers along with the shallots, garlic, and ginger.
  • Add more vegetables – Bulk up the curry even more with diced sweet potatoes, fresh spinach, kale, carrots, butternut squash, celery, green beans, or zucchini.

Serving suggestions

Scooping the curry over a bed of cooked basmati rice is a must, although brown rice, quinoa, or even leafy greens would taste great, too. To elevate every bite, serve the curry over coconut lime rice instead.

From there, garnish each bowl with pickled red onions, fresh cilantro, a dollop of yogurt or sour cream, raita sauce, and diced jalapeno or serrano peppers. Scoop up every bite with homemade naan bread and enjoy!

Overhead shot of Black bean curry in white bowl with lime wedges and jalapenos.

How to make ahead + store

  • Once it’s cool, store the leftover curry black beans in airtight containers in the fridge for 3 to 4 days.
  • It can also be frozen for up to 3 months, although the coconut milk may be a touch grainy once it’s thawed. Let the leftovers defrost in the fridge before reheating in the microwave or a saucepan on the stove.

Erin’s wine pairings for curry

  • Enjoy this Indian black bean curry with a Dry Riesling. Its sweet notes and acidity stand up well to the bold Indian spices.
  • For a lighter option, choose a Gewurztraminer.
Curry served with dollop of sour cream.

More vegan dinner ideas

  • Indian Butter Chickpeas
  • Baked Buffalo Tofu Bites
  • Vegan Caesar Salad
  • Curried Butternut Squash Soup
  • Thai Mushroom Salad
  • MORE → 100+ Vegan Dinner Ideas

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Did you try this black bean curry recipe?

If you loved making this black bean coconut curry, I would appreciate it so much if you would give the recipe a star review! Also, be sure to snap a picture of your finished dish and share it with me on Instagram using the hashtag #platingsandpairings and tagging me @platingsandpairings.

For more great Platings and Pairings recipes, be sure to follow me on  Instagram, TikTok, Pinterest and Facebook.

PS – If you have leftover coconut milk, try out one of these 45+ recipes that use coconut milk.

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Curry served in bowl with sour cream and lime wedges.

Full Recipe

Black Bean Curry

This easy vegan Black Bean Curry is ready in just 20-minutes! Canned black beans simmered in a fragrant, spiced creamy coconut milk sauce.
5 from 5 votes
Print Pin
Serves 4 people
Created by Platings and Pairings
Prep Time: 5 minutes mins
Cook Time: 15 minutes mins
Total Time: 20 minutes mins

Equipment

  • Large Skillet
  • Can Opener

Ingredients

  • 1 Tablespoon olive oil
  • 2 shallots (minced, or 1 medium onion)
  • 6 cloves garlic (minced)
  • 1 Tablespoon fresh ginger (grated )
  • 2 teaspoons ground cumin
  • 1 teaspoon ground coriander
  • 2 teaspoons mustard seeds
  • 1/2 teaspoon ground turmeric
  • 1/2 – 1 teaspoon cayenne pepper
  • 2 medium tomatoes (diced)
  • 2 14-ounce cans black beans (rinsed and drained)
  • ½ cup coconut milk
  • 1 lime (juiced, about 2 Tablespoons)
  • Salt and pepper (to taste)
  • 1/4 cup chopped cilantro (for garnish)
  • Rice (for serving)

To Garnish

  • Pickled onions, cilantro, greek yogurt or sour cream, jalapeno or serrano

Instructions

  • In a large skillet, heat the olive oil on medium-high heat until hot. Add the shallots and season with salt and pepper. Cook, stirring occasionally, 1-2 minutes, or until slightly softened.
  • Add the garlic, ginger and spices. Cook, about 1 minute, until fragrant.
  • Add the tomatoes and cook 1-2 minutes longer.
  • Add the black beans and coconut milk to the pan. Reduce the heat to medium and simmer, stirring occasionally, for 10 minutes.
  • Add the lime juice and season with salt and pepper, to taste.
  • Serve black bean curry on top of rice, with your desired garnishes. Enjoy!

Notes

How to make ahead + store
  • Once it’s cool, store the leftover curry black beans in airtight containers in the fridge for 3 to 4 days.
  • It can also be frozen for up to 3 months, although the coconut milk may be a touch grainy once it’s thawed. Let the leftovers defrost in the fridge before reheating in the microwave or a saucepan on the stove.
Variations
  • Instead of black beans – Use canned or cooked chickpeas, pinto beans, cannellini beans, or kidney beans. Even lentils would be a delicious and protein-packed substitute.
  • Add more heat – Saute diced jalapeno or serrano peppers along with the shallots, garlic, and ginger.
  • Add more vegetables – Bulk up the curry even more with diced sweet potatoes, fresh spinach, kale, carrots, butternut squash, celery, green beans, or zucchini.

Nutrition

Calories: 129kcal | Carbohydrates: 8g | Protein: 2g | Fat: 11g | Saturated Fat: 6g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g | Monounsaturated Fat: 3g | Sodium: 14mg | Potassium: 323mg | Fiber: 2g | Sugar: 3g | Vitamin A: 699IU | Vitamin C: 12mg | Calcium: 40mg | Iron: 2mg
Did you make this recipe?Mention @platingsandpairings or tag #platingsandpairings!
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5 from 5 votes (2 ratings without comment)

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7 responses

  1. dina and bruce miller
    April 26, 2023

    5 stars
    Wow! Can not wait to make this!!

    Thank you!

    Reply
    1. Erin
      April 26, 2023

      You’re welcome!

      Reply
  2. Chuck Hooker
    April 27, 2023

    Your black bean curry looks perfect, one glitch for me: a coconut allergy.Even though it’s a relatively small amount, any suggestions on
    a substitute for coconut milk? Thank you

    Reply
    1. Erin
      April 29, 2023

      Hi Chuck! You can swap in some greek yogurt, or heavy cream, or simply leave it out. Hope that helps!

      Reply
  3. dina and bruce miller
    May 1, 2023

    5 stars
    I know what I am making soon! Yum!

    Reply
    1. Erin
      May 2, 2023

      Cheers!

      Reply
  4. drift boss
    October 26, 2023

    5 stars
    A great and simple recipe!

    Reply

Hi, I’m Erin!

Can I pour you a glass of wine? Let’s have some fun in the kitchen! Maybe some pasta? A juicy steak? I’ve got loads of yummy, easy recipes for you! Because cooking should feel as comfy as your favorite yoga pants. ♥

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