beans, beans.......

[wildeyed]

I am saving money and being healthy at the same time! On Sunday, I soak a pot of beans. Then, for the rest of the week, I add them to my meal plan. Lots of fiber and nutrients for pennies.

Last week was white beans. I did minestrone and a pasta and bean dish. Would have made a nice side, too, but I lost motivation and froze what was left over.

This week, chick peas, my favorite! I am doing pasta with spinach and garlic (and chick peas) right now. I roasted a pan of them with a little olive oil, garlic and kosher salt for snacks. And later in the week, I will make hummus.

So any other bean fanatics out there? What are your bean recipes?

[mandyky]

1. I just put a large bag of pintos to soak

Money is tight here, and no new meat this month except what I have in the freezer. I also have some split peas and may make split pea and bacon soup at some point....

I'll make a batch of Mac and Cheese with some of this stuff and freeze what I do not use by weekend.

Thank God I had my freezers and cupboards full over the summer!

[wildeyed]

2. Split pea soup is the best.

Maybe I will make that next week.

[wryter2000]

6. Pinto beans

Love those pinto beans, especially refried.

I cook them in a crock pot now, which makes it easier to control the heat for long periods of time. I freeze the cooked beans in small containers so I always have some.

[politicat]

3. black beans with chiles baked into a green chile cassarole

And nachos with refried beans. And mixed bean soup with bacon. And baked beans.

I like beans a lot, as long as a) I get to discard the soaking water and b) there's no baking soda in the boiling water. That last makes them taste soapy.

[murphymom]

4. If you're pushed for time

lentils are good as they cook a lot faster than other beans. I posted a red lentil soup recipe that I like in an earlier soup thread and cook regular brown lentils with tomato and garlic for a nice dish.

[yellowdogintexas]

7. I make curried lentils and serve them over basmati rice

with garlic butter on top.

YUM

my 59 cent meal

[Dora]

5. Mixed bean soup w/ ham hock

I buy the mixed beans from the bulk foods section. I just throw a cup or two of beans into my crockpot in the morning; add chopped celery, carrots, and onion; add one or two ham hocks, water, maybe some chicken stock, then I leave it on low and go to work. After I get home I pull out the hocks, cool 'em and shred the meat, then add it back to the mix.

Easy peasy.

[calico1]

8. Cuban Black beans and rice--(Slow cooker recipe)

1 lb. dried black beans
1 large onion, chopped (1 cup)
1 large bell pepper, chopped (1 1/2 cups)
5 cloves garlic finely chopped
2 bay leaves
1 can (14 1/2 oz) diced tomatoes, undrained
5 cups water
2 TB olive oil
4 tsp ground cumin
2 tsp finely chopped jalapeno chili
1 tsp salt
3 cups hot cooked rice, for serving


1. Mix all ingredients except rice in 3 1/2 to 6 quart slow cooker.

2. Cover and cook oh high heat setting 6 to 8 hours ot until beans are tender and most of the liquid is absorbed. Remove bay leaves.

3. Serve beans over rice.

Finishing touch: serve bowls of chopped red onion and hard cooked eggs to sprinkle on top for a tradtional black bean and rice dish.

(From "Betty Crocker's Slow Cooker Cookbook")

Note--I add some smoked ham and a little chopped cilantro to the beans. I also soak the beans for a couple of hours or overnight if I have time and rinse well before putting in the slow cooker. This gets rid of a lot of the indigestible sugars in the beans.

This is a great recipe and you can add your own touches. You can also use red beans, pinto beans, pink beans or white beans for this recipe.

Although this is a slow cooker recipe, if you don't have one it will work in a big pot, like a dutch oven. Just make sure you simmer at very low heat.

[A HERETIC I AM]

9. I love Cuban Black beans....But you forgot something.....

Vinegar. About 2 or 3 tablespoons of vinegar added near the end. Every good Cuban Frijoles Negros recipe i've found had vinegar. It does it a wonderful service.
And the Cumin.
That spice just sets it off, doesn't it?

[calico1]

11. I copied the recipe as is.

I am Puerto Rican but I like the Cuban black bean recipe. I adjust according to my own taste. I almost always tweak recipes. The vinegar sounds like a good idea, although I usually use olives too--"alcaparrado" which has vinegar in it. I agree about the cumin. It definitley adds a nice touch. Love that spice! I will definitely remember the vinegar next time.

[A HERETIC I AM]

14. My terms were wrong. I didnt mean to infer YOU forgot something...

I should have put it better. But it does add a little bite.

The olives SOUND nice, but since i can't stand olives, i'll avoid that!

[ernstbass]

13. Orange zest is great in black beans

[canichelouis]

10. Beans and Greens

Chard, escarole, mustard, collard, any kind. Straight or a mix.
Olive oil, garlic and onion.
Beans of any kind.
Great combo.

[wildeyed]

16. Sounds extremely nutritious.

Be great for a side dish.

[Shakespeare]

17. Second that.

Toss in a little pancetta (for those of us who are non-vegetarians), and it's absolute heaven.

[cleofus1]

12. pinto beans

refritos....or just some crock pot action with that pork fat stuff...

beans beans the magic fruit
the more you eat the more you toot....

sorry i couldn't help it...

[wildeyed]

15. The more you toot, the better you feel!

So eat some beans at every meal!

Gawd, now you got it stuck in my head. x(