Beans 101

WEDNESDAY: Legumes, nuts, and other proteins

collection of wooden bowls with legumes

We have almost 200 lbs of beans at my house!  Dried beans, canned beans, frozen beans…If you need some beans, I’ve got them.

P3020012 (WinCE)

Most beans can boast 8 or 9 grams of fiber and 8 grams of protein!  They are definitely a power food!  But there are so many different kinds!  Here is a quick reference to the different types of beans.

Also known as Stove top Cooking Time Best Uses
Lentils dal 1 hour Side dishes, soups, stews
Soy Beans Edamame, tofu, Tempeh 3 1/2 hours Snacks, salad garnish
Red Kidney Beans Adzuki 2 hours Meaty flavor, Good in Chili, soups, salads, casseroles
Pinto Beans Cowboy beans, Mexican beans, 2 hours Good in Mexican Food/ made into refried beans. Good in casseroles and soup.
Great Northern 1 1/2 hours Baked beans, soups, stews
Lima Beans Butter beans, Madagascar beans, Fava 2 hours Succotash, casseroles, soups, salads
Black Beans Turtle beans, black Spanish beans 2 hours Good with ground beef, soups, stews
Garbanzo Beans Chickpeas Used in salads, casseroles, or pureed for hummus
Black eyed peas cow peas, cherry beans 1/2 hour soups, over rice, oriental and Mediterranean dishes
Navy Beans Fagioli, Pea bean 2 hours Soups and stews

 

We had white chili for dinner the other night!  It was delicious. With many different recipes out there, I basically used:

  • White kidney
  • Black eyed peas
  • onions
  • garlic
  • carrots
  • chicken
  • chicken broth
  • Salt/ pepper
  • and chili powder.

A recipe very similar to this one, but I tend to put my own amounts.  Like more beans, less chicken.  Adding some tortilla chips for dipping is an easy way for my kids to polish off a bowl of chili and ask for more.

Here are some of our favorite bean recipes:

Hummus

Black Bean BurgersB

If you haven’t heard, come back tomorrow for a FAMOUS INTERVIEW AND ANOTHER GIVEAWAY!