If you’re like most people, you’ve probably stocked up on canned beans in the last few weeks. And while canned beans are convenient and time-saving, they aren’t exactly the tastiest. That’s why I’m sharing this post on How to Make Canned Beans Taste Better! Here are five ways to make those boring canned beans in your pantry taste better.
Making Beans Taste Great: 12 Simple Tricks to Take Your Beans from Bland to Brilliant
As an affordable, plant-based protein source, beans offer tremendous nutritional value. But their neutral flavor can leave them tasting bland and boring. Fortunately, with a few easy techniques, you can coax the tastiest flavors from beans to make them anything but dull.
Read on to discover simple tricks from soaking to seasoning that will have your beans bursting with rich, complex flavor.
- Start with Quality Beans
Like any ingredient, fresh, high-quality beans impart better flavor. Purchase beans from stores with good turnover. Avoid old beans stored in bulk bins. Opt for vibrantly colored, uniformly sized beans. Store beans in an airtight container in a cool, dark place.
- Soak Beans Before Cooking
Soaking makes beans more digestible by reducing indigestible sugars But it also amps up flavor by allowing beans to fully hydrate Cover beans with water and soak 4-12 hours or quick soak 1 hour, Discard soaking water to remove indigestible oligosaccharides,
- Cook Beans in Flavorful Liquid
Water is fine for cooking beans, but broth wine, beer or juice adds richness. Swap out some cooking water for chicken beef or veggie broth. Deglaze pan drippings to use as bean liquid. Add a splash of red wine or dark beer.
- Cook Beans with Aromatics
Build complex flavor right in the pot by cooking beans with herbs, spices, vegetables and smoked meats. Try bay leaves, peppercorns, onions, garlic, carrots, celery, ham hocks or bacon.
- Brown Beans for Deeper Flavor
Sautéing raw, soaked beans in oil before simmering caramelizes their surface and brings out nutty undertones. Cook low and slow to avoid scorching. Finish cooking in fresh water or broth.
- Finish Beans with Acid
Brighten up beans by stirring in a splash of lemon juice, wine vinegar or hot sauce right before serving. Acids balance the earthy flavors.
- Toss Beans with Fresh Herbs
Liven up beans with just-chopped soft herbs like parsley, cilantro, basil, mint, chives or dill. Their fresh, grassy notes pair perfectly with humble beans.
- Spike Beans with Spices and Chilies
Warm spices like cumin, coriander, mustard and cinnamon lend exotic nuance. Dried chilies, fresh jalapeños or pepper flakes bring heat. Start with 1/4 teaspoon spice per pound of beans.
- Season Beans Generously
Beans soak up surrounding flavors, needing assertive seasoning. Add generous pinches of salt and pepper during each step. Finish with more to taste. Umami-rich ingredients like soy sauce, anchovies, bacon and Parmesan boost savoriness.
- Make Beans Creamy
For smooth, creamy beans, purée a portion with some cooking liquid. Return to pot and gently heat. Creaminess balances earthiness.
- Toast and Crush Aromatics
Whole spices and herbs infuse flavor during simmering, but toasting and crushing them first intensifies aroma and taste. Try cumin, coriander or fennel seeds, bay leaf or rosemary.
- Top Beans with Crispy Elements
Textural contrast makes beans even tastier. scatter sautéed mushrooms or caramelized onions over beans. Top with toasted nuts, crispy bacon, crunchy breadcrumbs or chicharrón.
The Takeaway
With smart additions and cooking techniques, humble beans shine. Soak them well. Simmer beans in an intensely flavored liquid. Toast and crush spices and aromatics. Finish beans with acid, fresh herbs and bold seasoning. And don’t forget garnishes that provide pleasing textures.
Simple tricks like these will have you looking at beans in a whole new light. Your taste buds will thank you!
References:
https://www.seriouseats.com/the-food-lab-complete-guide-to-sous-vide-beans
https://www.thekitchn.com/how-to-make-beans-taste-good-cooking-lessons-from-the-kitchn-111667
https://www.thespruceeats.com/french-style-beans-recipe-1376557
https://www.thespruceeats.com/add-flavor-to-beans-1807732
https://www.simplyrecipes.com/recipes/how_to_make_beans_from_scratch/
https://www.thespruceeats.com/flavoring-beans-from-the-start-3377050
https://www.thespruceeats.com/tips-to-make-tastier-beans-3376914
https://www.thespruceeats.com/easy-ways-to-spice-up-beans-3061238
https://www.thekitchn.com/5-simple-ways-to-make-beans-taste-better-23284265
https://www.thekitchn.com/baked-beans-22948281
https://localrootsfarm.com/index.php/2019/03/27/lets-talk-about-beans-baby/
Watch! How to make canned beans taste better
Visit the YouTube video linked below for more information and pictures on how to improve the taste of canned beans as well as how to cook and season dried beans.
Make Crispy Pan-Fried Beans
This is my favorite way to improve the taste of canned beans! They go from being squishy and mushy to being crispy and browned! Just make sure to pat the beans dry well to get rid of any extra liquid and keep them from crowding the pan.
They’re fantastic stuffed into baked potatoes and sweet potatoes, or in a salad or grain bowl.
Try these Za’atar White Bean Stuffed Sweet Potatoes!
Techniques and 150 recipes to master vegan cooking.
- ▢ 1 15-ounce / 440g can chickpeas
- ▢ 2-3 teaspoons olive oil
- ▢ ½ teaspoon garlic powder
- ▢ ½ teaspoon dried oregano
- ▢ ½ teaspoon dried thyme
- ▢ ½ teaspoon paprika
- ▢ Kosher salt or sea salt to taste
- ▢ Freshly cracked black pepper to taste
- ▢ Juice of 1/2 medium lemon
- Rinse and drain the chickpeas, then use a clean dish towel or paper towels to pat them dry all the way through.
- Put the oil in a 12-inch skillet and heat it over medium-high heat. Make sure the oil covers the whole pan lightly. Spread the chickpeas out in a single layer after adding them in small amounts. Let the beans cook undisturbed for 3 to 5 minutes. Place the beans on the other side of the pan and cook for an extra 3 to 5 minutes, until they are browned and blistered.
- Add a lot of salt and pepper, along with the garlic powder, oregano, thyme, paprika, and a pinch of each. Spread the chickpeas out and stir them around. Cook for 30 to 60 seconds. Remove the pan from the heat and add the chickpeas. Squeeze the lemon juice over them and mix them well.
Nutrition Info
The Best Canned Black Beans Recipe
FAQ
How can I make my beans taste better?
How to make beans more interesting?
How do you make beans more appealing?
Why do restaurant beans taste better?
How do you make beans taste good?
To make beans taste good, you can add salt, fat, herbs and spices, or some type of sauce. These tips can apply both to beans cooked from scratch, and to canned beans. They also work to make other pulses more tasty too, like lentils and chickpeas!
How do you make beans more tender?
If it seems like just a few of the beans are wrinkled, pick them out and proceed. If it’s the whole pot, start over with fresh beans or buckle in for a looooong, slow cook—and add a pinch of baking soda: The baking soda increases the pH of the liquid (the opposite effect of adding acid to the mix!), naturally making the beans more tender.
How do you cook beans on a stove?
Cook low and slow—patience is key. To cook on the stove, bring the pot of beans (soaked or unsoaked, with olive oil, salt, and any seasonings plus 2 to 3 inches of liquid covering them) to a boil over high heat, then reduce the heat so that your beans are barely but steadily simmering and cover with the lid.
How do you thicken a can of beans?
You frizzly-fry some onions quickly in a saucepan with whatever fat you have on hand. I love using schmaltz or bacon fat, but you can keep them vegetarian if you want with butter or olive oil. Then you dump the whole can of beans and liquid into the pan. (Do not drain and rinse the beans!) The starchy bean liquid will rapidly thicken everything up.