Canned beans are convenient, but in terms of affordability, taste, and texture, dried beans have them beat. Do not be afraid to cook dried beans if you have never done it before. My method is simple, hands-off, and very effective. They come out soft and creamy, with a rich, aromatic broth surrounding them. They’re tasty enough to eat on their own when they’re hot from the stove with a ladle of cooking liquid.
You can use dried beans in bowls, soups, tacos, and other dishes just like you would use canned beans. Cook a big batch and freeze them to have on hand. Trust me, you’ll thank yourself later!.
Beans are an incredibly versatile and healthy ingredient that can be used in a variety of dishes. From soups and salads to dips and main courses, beans add protein, fiber, and nutrients to meals. Here are 12 delicious ways to cook with beans:
1. Bean Soups
Adding beans to soups provides protein and heartiness. Try black beans in a Cuban black bean soup, cannellini beans in a Tuscan white bean soup, or pinto beans in a Mexican-inspired soup Simmer the beans right in the broth to infuse more flavor Some classic bean soups include split pea, minestrone, and chili.
2. Bean Salads
Toss beans with mixed greens, vegetables, and a tangy vinaigrette for a hearty bean salad. Chickpeas and kidney beans are common choices. You can also make three bean, black bean, or edamame salads. Beans add more staying power to a salad and make it more satisfying.
3. Baked Beans
Nothing beats classic baked beans! Navy or cannellini beans baked low and slow in a sweet and savory sauce are the perfect side dish. Add some smoky flavor with bacon or ham hocks. Or keep it vegetarian by using mushrooms, tomato paste, Worcestershire sauce, and brown sugar to add depth.
4. Refried Beans
Transforming beans into refried beans is easy! Simply mash cooked pinto beans with oil or lard. Season them up with onion, garlic, cumin, and chili powder. Refried beans are an ideal filling for tacos, burritos, tostadas, enchiladas, and more.
5. Bean Dips
Blending beans makes for supremely creamy, protein-packed dips and spreads. Hummus, which uses chickpeas, is the classic example. But you can also puree black beans, cannellini beans, or edamame into dips. Serve alongside raw vegetables, pita bread, or tortilla chips.
6. Bean Burgers
Mash your favorite beans together with spices, herbs, and binders like breadcrumbs or oats to form hearty veggie burgers. Black bean burgers are popular, but you can also use refried beans, chickpeas, or a bean medley. Serve them on buns with all the fixings.
7. Bean Enchiladas
Make a smoky spiced bean filling for enchiladas by cooking onions peppers, spices, and beans together. Roll up in tortillas, cover with enchilada sauce and cheese, then bake. Black beans, pinto beans, or a combo work great.
8. Chili
No bean chili would be complete without…the beans! Beans act as the base for vegetarian chilis, or bulk up meat chilis. Kidney and pinto beans are common choices, but also try black beans, cannellini beans, or a mix. Allow the beans to simmer in the sauce to infuse more flavor.
9. Rice and Beans
This classic combo is simple affordable, and nutritious. Cook rice, mix with sautéed beans and seasonings and you have an easy one-pot meal. Some favorite versions are Cuban black beans with rice, red beans and rice, and Mexican rice and beans.
10. Bean Pasta
Toss beans with whole grain pasta for a protein and fiber boost. White beans, chickpeas, lentils and black beans all work. Heat them up with tomato sauce or pesto, or keep it cold with a Parmesan-laced bean pasta salad.
11. Bean Sides
Beans make a hearty, healthy side dish thanks to all that plant-based protein. Bake beans with molasses or barbecue sauce, mash them into a dip, turn them intobean cakes or croquettes, or sauté them with veggies.
12. Bean Desserts
Don’t forget about using beans in sweet treats! Blend them into brownies, quick breads, cookies, and more. Black beans and white beans have mild flavors that work well in desserts. The beans add nutrition while keeping the texture moist.
With so many options, beans can easily be incorporated into all kinds of savory and sweet recipes. Their versatility, nutrition, and affordability make them a weekly kitchen staple. Next time you cook, try swapping in beans to add more fiber, plant-based protein, and variety to your meals.
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How to Cook Beans
Cooking dried beans is easy! Here’s what you need to do:
- Pick them over. Many times, small rocks or other things get mixed in with dried beans. Sort the beans before you cook them. Discard this debris along with any shriveled or discolored beans.
- To soak or not to soak? I strongly advise that you soak your beans before cooking them. Not only will they be ready faster, but they’ll also be much easier to digest. Put the dried beans in a large bowl and add enough water to cover them by 2 to 3 inches. Discard any beans that float. After that, let the beans soak for at least eight hours or overnight. In the morning, drain and rinse the soaked beans.
- It’s time to cook! Put the soaked beans in a big pot and add two inches of water to cover them. If the beans haven’t been soaked yet, rinse them in a fine mesh strainer before putting them in the pot. Bring the water to a slow boil, then lower the heat and let it simmer for 30 minutes. Remove any foam that forms on top and throw it away.
- Add seasonings & continue cooking. Add salt to the beans after they’ve been cooking for 30 minutes. Keep cooking the beans until they are soft. If they start to look dry, add more water. Depending on how big and fresh your beans are, the cooking time could go up by 30 minutes to two hours. I recommend checking them every 30 minutes.
When the beans are tender, season to taste and remove them from the heat. Put the beans in a container that won’t let air in and put it in the fridge for up to five days. You can also freeze them for several months. For the full recipe, see below.
Cooking Dried Beans – Exceptions
My favorite way to cook dried beans is with this method. It works for black beans, pinto beans, cannellini beans, kidney beans, cranberry beans, and more. However, there are a few exceptions to the rule:
- Lentils. You don’t have to soak these beans before cooking them. Each type has a different texture and a short cooking time. Here’s how to cook black, green, brown, and red lentils.
- Split peas. Also, green and yellow split peas cook quickly and don’t need to be soaked. It takes about 25 minutes to cook green split peas and 30 to 40 minutes to cook yellow split peas. Both are great for soups because they cook down into a smooth, creamy puree.
- Adzuki beans. If you can find these little red beans, I really think you should try them. They taste great when cooked for 35 to 40 minutes with salt and any aromatics you like (read more about these below!).
To make dried beans taste even better, cook them with sea salt and water. Then, add an onion, garlic, or other aromatics to the pot. These simple additions turn the starchy bean cooking liquid into a fragrant broth that tastes just as good as the beans themselves. Here are a few of my favorite aromatics:
- A strip of kombu: You don’t have to use this, but it makes the beans easier to digest.
- You can use quartered onions, halves of shallots, or smashed garlic cloves for onions and garlic.
- Herbs: A fresh sprig of thyme or rosemary, or the leaves or stems of sage, parsley, or cilantro I often add frozen herbs to my home cooked beans.
- Ground black pepper, bay leaves, dried chiles, or black peppercorns are all spices.
- Fruit and vegetable scraps, like celery leaves, onion ends, fennel fronds, and more! I freeze these to use when I cook beans or make vegetable stock.
Add one or more aromatics when you add the salt, 30 minutes into the bean cooking process. When the beans are tender, remove and discard any add-ins before you eat. Let me know what variations you try!.
Loved learning how to cook beans? Try cooking one of these pantry staples next:
Then, find 30+ pantry-friendly recipes here!
The Secret to Cooking Beans The Right Way So You’re Not Farting All Day!
FAQ
What are some cooking methods for beans?
What are different ways to flavor beans?
How to cook different types of beans together?
What is the healthiest way to cook beans?
How do you cook beans in a crock pot?
(No need to rinse.) In a large skillet, heat the butter and olive oil over medium high heat. Once melted, add the onion, bell pepper, jalapeño pepper, and garlic. Cook for 10 minutes, stirring occasionally until the onions are translucent and lightly browned. Add the beans, cumin, oregano, and kosher salt and stir to combine.
What can you do with beans?
What’s more, they’re incredibly versatile. Heat them on the stove with salt and pepper and serve them as a side dish, puree them into a creamy dip or pasta sauce, stuff them into tacos, or bake them into a hearty vegetarian pot pie. Your options are endless, but these 25 easy bean recipes are a great place to start.
Do you need to cook canned beans?
A lot of the easiest bean recipes start with canned beans, but this one doesn’t even require that you cook them. Just toss chickpeas with tender simmered potatoes, cilantro-mint chutney, tamarind chutney, and yogurt and top with chiles, onions, tomatoes, and chaat masala for the perfect low-cook meal.
Can you cook beans in a slow cooker?
Three kinds of beans are tossed with a vinaigrette made with tomato paste- and spice-infused oil (which gives the salad surprising depth of flavor). Stir a dollop of sour cream into the chilled salad to cut through some of the spiciness. If you have yet to cook beans from scratch and own a slow cooker, this is the recipe for you!