How do YOU cook beans?

Leisalynn84

I need to get more protein, I know beans are a good source. I never ate them growing up so I don't really know how to prepare them. I make a good pasta fragole that has kidney and garbanzo beans, I also mash garbanzos w/ avacado and spread that on sandwiches. Other than that I just don't know what I'm doing. Main dishes or side dishes would be helpful. Thanks in advance!

shred_me_up

In my brownies

http://chocolatecoveredkatie.com/2012/09/06/no-flour-black-bean-brownies/

themommie

Soak them overnight, then boil them with sliced onion, salt pepper, garlic and some chili powder , until the beans are almost tendrr I also add a can of roasted diced tomatoes, I usually add some kind of browned meat, or sliced sausage such as linguisa, this is optional, then I put diced onion, shredded cheesr, sour cream avocado what ever condiment on top....yum I usually use pinto beans but any kind will work...

SyntonicGarden

I use dried beans and a pressure cooker when I can.

Sometimes, I'll sautee small red beans with onion, garic, oregano, and Sazon. I'll either eat the beans alongside of some eggs or I'll throw them in breakfast burritos/tacos.

Soups are good.

I've heard of people using other beans (not chickpeas) to make hummus.

I've used beans and rice, mushed together with a few other ingredients to make "burgers" or you could throw cooked beans into ground meat before cooking regular burgers.

rondaj05

As a main dish I cook mine in my slow cooker. I soak them for 24 hours then put them on in the morning and let them cook all day on high. I usually chop up an onion, couple cloves of garlic, a stalk or two of celery (if I have it), bell pepper (if I have it) saute them to soften up and add to the pot. A ham bone, chunks of lean ham or any lean sausage (cut up and fried first to cook the fat off) is a good addition.

My dad loved his beans, I grew up eating them and kinda burnt out on eating them. Now I'm living in Louisiana and red beans and rice is a staple here, my husband used to buy Blue Runner beans and add to them but he won't touch Blue Runner now that he's had mine made in the crock pot!

jayjay12345654321

I used to have a slow cooker. I'd rinse and pour a bag of lintels or split peas into the crockpot, set it to low, then go to bed. The next day at supper, they were perfect. Use a little salt or bullion in the water to help flavor them. My youngest is a carnivore to her soul. For her, I threw in slices of bacon and chunks of cooked ham. Split pea soup was her favorite.

hesn92

Umm.. basically I put them in Chili.... that's about it. I don't eat a lot of beans. Pork and beans (with the white northern beans) is really good but.... it gives me really bad gas so I don't eat it. lol. But it's really easy.

ChrisS30V

I soak, boil, then make baked beans out of them. It's really good.

vienna_h

I'm lazy with beans. I have 4 main recipes I used beans for - usually canned and rinsed.

1- I'll make some multigrain rotini or other pasta. I'll take a can of 3-bean salad, put through strainer and rinse, that way they still have some of the taste of the 'salad' but without the sauce. I'll add them to the paste, add some pesto sauce, and maybe a bit of cheese too. I'll eat it as a side dish with veggies.

2- Gallo pinto, Costa Rican staple. I make some rice. In a skillet, I'll fry a can of black beans (strained and rinsed), some finely diced red, orange, yellow peppers, maybe some tomato, maybe some zucchini, and sprinkle with lime juice. once it's done, I mix into the rice and top it off with tons of delicious fresh cilantro. Makes a great side dish.

3- Chili. I use ground tofu, kidney beans or a mix of beans, tomatoes, red, orange and yellow peppers, cilantro, chili powder, hot peppers, and lime juice. Eat with totopos or make corn tortillas to make burritos.

4- I use the dried bean mix in soup. Boil water and add the dry beans, let it simmer for 45 minutes, then add the rest of the ingredients. Can be used in minestrone type soups. I sometimes also make a soup with beans, quinoa, squash, celery, carrot, kale or spinach, and broth. Reminds me of what I used to eat every single day in Peru.

kiittenforever

I like to make homemade hummus with chickpeas then have it with celery sticks or whatever veggies.
Vegetarian chilli with kidney beans
Refried beans - http://allrecipes.com/recipe/refried-beans-without-the-refry/

lisalsd1

I buy dried beans (mostly black beans and chick peas), soak overnight, and boil for about an hour or two (until soft). I use them in tacos, on salads, chili, soup, add them to turkey wraps, make hummus. I also mix them with quinoa (cooked with salsa) as a side dish. I also like chick peas plain with a little olive oil and curry.

will2lose72

I mix canned black beans, corn, and tomatoes with a vinaigrette - black or white balsamic, sherry, or rice wine vinegar with olive oil are some good ones. Season with garlic powder, salt, pepper, even some cilantro. I like to eat this by itself but it is also a good side with turkey burger patties or grilled/bbq chicken.

acpgee

I like lentils on their own with a garlicky vinaigrette or in soups, but most beans I puree into a dip for raw veg, similar to hummous.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/food/recipes/quickhummousandolive_71473
http://www.myfitnesspal.com/blog/Bobtheangrytomato/view/white-bean-hummus-481000

I make a crunchy snack out of split peas, or turn them into a soup with ham.
http://www.ihearexercisewillkillyou.com/2010/06/split-pea-crisps.html
http://dutchfood.about.com/od/soups/r/TraditionalDutchSplitPeaSoup.htm

ShellyBell999

I chop n fry up 3-4 slices thick bacon till almost cooked, add 1/2 C chopped onion n sauté until tender, add 2-3 cloves garlic crushed. Then add 3 C fresh green beans and cook till al dente' pepper to taste, YUM!!

keem88

vegetarian chili with black beans and sweet potatoes among other things:
http://vegetarian.about.com/od/soupsstewsandchili/r/blackbeansweetpotato.htm

quesadillas with black beans, peppers, onions, mushrooms

black bean enchiladas or enchilada casserole

sweet potato burritos with kidney beans (really delish!)
http://allrecipes.com/recipe/addictive-sweet-potato-burritos/

i also like to mash the chickpeas and mix with avocado and greek yogurt inplace of mayo then season with dillweed, chives, garlic powder, onion powder, salt and pepper and eat on a sandwich or wrap

chickpeas on a salad

use lentis to make tacos

chickpea soup:
1 red onion, diced
3 cloves garlic minced
1 can chickpeas or cook dried beans and use 2 cups
1 1/2 tsp minced fresh sage or 1/2 tsp dried
1/4 tsp black pepper
2 cups vegetable broth
half 10oz package frozen chopped spinach, thawed and squeezed dried
1/2 tsp salt
2 tbsp lemon juice
in medium saucepan, spray with cooking spray and cook onion until soft about 5 mins. add garlic, cook stirring about 1 minute. stir in chickpeas, sage and pepper.
stir in the broth, spinach and salt, bring to a boil. transfer the mixture to a blender or food processor and puree. return to the saucepan and simmer 5 minutes. stir in lemon juice
makes 4 servings. 163 cals, 3g total fat, 0g saturated fat, 0mg cholesterol, 590mg sodium (this will vary depending if you use canned beans and what type of broth), 25g total carbs, 7g fiber, 9g protein,99mg calcium

another chickpea soup:
2 tsp olive oil
1 fennel bulb diced
2 carrots diced
1 onion chopped
3 garlic cloves minced
4 cups vegetable broth
2 cups coarsley chopped swiss chard leaves
3/4 cup elbow macaroni
1/4 tsp salt
1/4 cup chopped flat leaf parsley
1/4 tsp black pepper
in medium saucepan heat oil. add fennel, carrots, onion and garlic. cook stirring as needed until fennel and onions are golden about 10-12 minutes.
stir in broth, chard, macaroni, and salt; cook until macaroni is tender about 10mins.stir in parsley and pepper
serves 4, 170 cals

hummus:
http://www.yummly.com/recipe/Mediterranean-hummus-304159

chipotle hummus:
http://www.yummly.com/recipe/Mexican-chipotle-hummus-297604

loconnor466

I am trying to add more beans in my diet and my daughter who is a vegetarian. (I am not, but lightening up on the meat)

I just got a new cookbook called the Happy Herbivore Light and Lean and I made their version of shepherds pie. Finely chopped onions and carrots, peppers, (or whatever veggies you want really) and then add cooked lentils, this basically replaces the meat. Add corn or peas and top with mashed potatoes. it was delicious!

keem88

chickpea curry is also good:
http://www.closetcooking.com/2011/07/chickpea-curry-chana-masala.html

queenbea77

In my brownies

http://chocolatecoveredkatie.com/2012/09/06/no-flour-black-bean-brownies/

These are pretty good.

I like to make black bean corn salsa to put on my salads

queenbea77

Oh yea & black bean burgers are yummy!

lynn_glenmont

I go the cold-overnight-soak-and-cook-in-a-pot-on-the-stove route when I plan ahead, but occasionally I want beans NOW and don't have any that I've cooked in the refrigerator or freezer, so I keep canned beans on hand too.

Most recently I sauteed a little garlic, fresh sage, and lemon zest in a little olive oil, added small white beans with a little of the cooking water and heated through until the water evaporated. I served it over warm rice with a little more olive oil, fresh lemon juice, salt, and pepper, but you could do it over pasta as well.

The first night I made that batch of beans, I had them with some chopped fresh sage (have to use it up!) and sardines packed in Louisiana hot sauce. Yum!

I like garbanzos/chick peas with couscous, cremini mushrooms, and a lemon-pepper dressing, on a bed of romaine, for a hearty salad.

I made falafel recently for the first time, and the only hard parts were finding all the ingredients (for some reason the recipe called for garbanzo flour in addition to whole garbanzos, although I've since found recipes that just use the whole beans) and turning the felafel over in the pan (I need to find a narrow, offset, long-handled tool for turning stuff in a frying pan -- I used a short-handled tool meant for getting baked goods out of pans and ended up burning myself).

But really the best way to eat beans is a dark chocolate bar with roasted edamame. Mmmm.

alfiedn

Falafel is good. Lentils are a pretty great source of protein, too and can be used in veggie balls and salads.

knra_grl

Bean Salad is good:

chick peas
kidney beans
green beans
yellow beans
black beans

thinly sliced red and green peppers
thinly sliced red onion
some fresh garlic if you like
sliced celery

a simple vingarette dressing

(I usually just buy a big variety of different beans when I make it but the end result is LOTS lol - but with a vinegarette dressing it keeps well in the fridge)

Also you can just throw some canned beans on your salads - i had black beans on my salad the other day and just made a black bean hummus with what was left

_Terrapin_

slow and often. best of luck, they're a hoot....and yes...a toot.

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Leisalynn84

Thanks everyone! Lots of great ideas to try!