
Ingredients:
2 cups cooked or canned no-salt-added or low-sodium black beans, drained
5 Medjool or 10 Deglet Noor dates, pitted
2 tablespoons raw almond butter
1 teaspoon alcohol-free vanilla extract (or pure vanilla bean powder)
½ cup natural, non-alkalized cocoa powder
1 teaspoon ground chia seeds
1. Preheat the oven to 200 degrees F. Combine the black beans, dates, almond butter and vanilla in a food processor or high-powered blender. Blend until smooth. Add the remaining ingredients and blend again.
2. Spread into an 8-by-8 inch baking pan that is lined with parchment paper (or use a silicone pan). Bake for 1½ hours.
3. Cool completely and apply topping if desired. Cut into 12 squares. Store in a covered container in the refrigerator for up to one week.
Serves 12
Optional topping:
1 ripe avocado
½ cup water
4 tablespoons natural, non-alkalized cocoa powder
3 Medjool dates or 5 Deglet Noor dates, pitted
splash vanilla extract
Blend topping ingredients in a high-powered blender until smooth and creamy.

Joel Fuhrman, M.D. is a family physician, New York Times best-selling author, and nutritional researcher who specializes in preventing and reversing disease through nutritional and natural methods. Dr. Fuhrman is an expert on nutrition and natural healing, and has appeared on hundreds of radio and television shows. Dr. Fuhrman’s own successful PBS television shows, 3 Steps to Incredible Health, Dr. Fuhrman’s Immunity Solution, and End Dieting Forever bring nutritional science to homes all across America.
The recipes here are from Dr. Fuhrman’s new Eat to Live Quick and Easy Cookbook, full of simple Nutritarian recipes, and handy cooking and shopping tips. “I hear from people all the time that they would love to eat a better diet if only they had the time to prepare the right foods,” says Dr. Fuhrman. “But preparing tasty, healthy meals doesn’t have to take a lot of time or effort. This was the thought that inspired me to create my Eat to Live Quick and Easy Cookbook.” The new cookbook includes 131 fast and simple Nutritarian recipes, plus handy cooking and shopping tips; a great resource for beginner cooks, and offers sophisticated flavors for anyone who wants to enjoy delicious meals without spending a lot of time in the kitchen.