BlueAngel22

I know that beans can be really good for you and I would love to add some into my diet. I really could use the extra protein option. I browsed different kinds at the grocery store, and I was just completely lost! Help! I need ideas for something to try to get me started that is relatively easy to make, healthy, and tasty. I'm usually pretty adventurous when it comes to learning to cook, but I just know I could make something so horrible that I would never eat another bean again if I don't get some guidance on this one. *LOL*

nicole47

use black beans or red/chili/kidney beans anywhere you would add cut up chicken (like Mexican!... but also Italian and many other things)

chick peas go great with anything Indian in place of chicken

I just use canned beans... rinse 'em out and pour 'em in. They are awesome for quick healthy weeknight meals.

Br@ndy

Refried beans and a little hot sauce with some cheese are always good! Bean soup can be really tasty too. But if you just want something really easy you can just boil some beans with garlic and onion until they get soft and top with some salsa and cilantro. It is sooooooooooo yummy

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Kayiena

mmm ham and beans...
soak pinto beans overnight in water, drain and rinse, add to crockpot with either a ham bone or some regular ol ham (the on the bone kinds are most flavorful). Do not add salt during cooking of beans, it will make them explode too early. And yes, they do explode while cooking add some onions, garlic, whatever, let it simmer all day, then add salt to taste. Voila, wonderful ham and beans!

PS with dried beans, you always want to sort them out, you'll occasionally find rocks in them.

Ajani

Add them to soup. They are great, especially with brown rice, or barley. A basic chicken stock with black beans, cooked rice and some salsa stirred in makes a nice lunch. Top it with a dollop of sour cream and some snipped green onions, and maybe a little shredded cheese, if you want.

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BlueAngel22

Thanks for all the advice! I will have to start trying your suggestions out after my next grocery run. Keep the ideas coming. I'm still just learning how to cook for myself, and I can use all the help I can get! *LOL* It seems like all I ever eat is chicken these days.

Ajani

Let me add that canned beans are much quicker and easier than dried, though dried are cheaper, relatively speaking. Canned beans don't cost much. Just rinse off the gunk that they're packed in and carry on. And if you can't finish a can, just freeze the rest.

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purplerose

Throw 'em in a pot of chili or soup.

Make a black bean quesadilla.

Eat them with rice and seasonings.

Put them on a salad.

You can see I eat lots of beans

zee

My fav snack is salsa+beans (any beans red kidney, black-eyed, black beans) eaten with nachos!! yummm..

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Ajani

I just remembered that I have some recipes for cold bean dishes...

First, drain the beans in a colander and rinse with cold water to wash away any packing liquid and excess salt. I

• Lemony Chickpea Dip. Canned chickpeas pureed with garlic, parsley, lemon juice and olive oil make a great dip for chips or raw vegetables. You can spread the puree on pita bread and top with sliced cucumber and tomato for a great vegetarian sandwich.

• Taco Salad with Black Beans. This is a quick combination of store-bought rotisserie chicken, beans, tomatoes, avocado, lime juice, olive oil and hot sauce, tossed with tortilla chips so that the chips absorb some of the liquid from the salad.

• Lima Bean, Ricotta Salata, and Basil Salad. The contrast of creamy lima beans, salty ricotta salata and fresh whole basil leaves tossed with some chopped red onion, olive oil and red wine vinegar is nice.

• Tuna, White Bean and Escarole Salad. Stop making the same old tuna. Instead, toss Italian tuna packed in olive oil with a can of white beans, some escarole leaves, oil and vinegar. Throw in a handful of croutons for crunch. A llight but satisfying main dish salad.

• Navy Bean, Goat Cheese and Bread Salad. Bread salads are a great way to use leftover country or sourdough bread. The beans turn the salad into a vegetarian main course. Dice the bread into cubes and toss with beans, crumbled goat cheese, a couple of chopped tomatoes, a bunch of watercress or arugula, and some oil and vinegar. The ingredients combine beautifully here, the bread cubes moistened by the tomato juice and the goat cheese partially dissolving to make a creamy dressing.

• White Beans and Shrimp. Canned white beans and store-bought cooked shrimp are a simple, natural pairing. Toss with a dressing of oil, lemon juice, minced garlic, and herbs, and either serve over lettuce or on crusty rolls.

• Black-Eyed Peas and Ham with Roasted Red Pepper Dressing. Another combination that's great over greens or wrapped in a flour tortilla or lavash. A dressing made from bottled red peppers that have been pureed in a food processor enlivens a down-home combination of black-eyed peas and deli ham.

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