23 Flexitarian Dinner Recipes with Beans (2024)

FAQs

What can I do with a lot of beans? ›

Those aromatics in the pot will revolutionize the beans' final flavor. The aromatics I tend to use are onions, carrots, garlic, and celery, and then heartier, woodsy herbs, like rosemary, sage, and thyme, which marry beautifully with the earthy-sweet flavor of beans.

Beans are an economical and shelf-stable source of protein, carbohydrates and fiber whether you buy a bag of dried beans at your local Ingles Market or buy them pre-cooked in a can. In ½ cup of cooked beans, there are: 6-9 grams of protein. 5-10 grams of fiber (Navy beans are highest)

Yes! "Eating beans, including canned beans, every day is one of the best things you can do to help increase nutrients [that you may fall short on] and substantially improve the quality of your diet," says Papanikolaou.

Baked beans are an ideal dish for summer picnics, cook-out, or potluck dinner. The combination of sweet and savory flavor makes it the perfect side dish to serve with hamburgers, hot dogs, sausages, or BBQ meats.

Combining incomplete proteins to form a complete protein

Combinations include: Nuts or seeds with whole grains (peanut butter on whole wheat toast) Whole grains with beans (beans and rice; hummus and pita bread; bean-based chili and crackers; refried beans and tortillas)

How to cook beans with meat. Ham hock, bacon, or a bit of sausage are good options for building a foundation of flavor for beans. If it's sausage or bacon, you'll want to cook it through before adding it to the pot.

Modern cooking websites often say it doesn't matter. In a way, they're both right. Soaking beans can help improve the texture of the final product once the beans are cooked and reduce the gas produced when the food is being digested. But it isn't necessary to soak them.

Originally Answered: What will add greater depth of flavor to bean soup if you cannot afford to buy meat? In addition to the usual things like garlic, onion, celery and peppers, a few unexpected additions will add a bit of flavor. Seasonings, such as chili powder (I like ancho which adds flavor more than heat.)

How do you eat beans for dinner? ›

The U.S. Dietary Guidelines recommends eating about 3 cups of legumes—like pinto, kidney, or black beans—per week. If you eat about ½ cup of beans every day, you'll meet the weekly Dietary Guidelines for beans.

On top of all of that, beans lend themselves to so many different flavor profiles—from sweet to savory—so they're a perfect fit for everything from breakfast to dinner (and even desserts like chocolate fudge black bean cookies). Trust us when we say you can eat beans every day and never get bored.

Add cooked beans to dishes like soups, salads, or pasta to increase your protein intake while keeping the fat content low. Mix any variety of beans with cooked vegetables, adding a healthy side dish to your meal. Instead of including meat in a wrap or pita, try using your favorite bean instead.

I love mushrooms, bell peppers, broccoli, asparagus, cherry tomatoes, cauliflower florets, and snap peas. You really can't go wrong here, just throw in any combination of what you have. The parts means to use 2-3 different types of vegetables! 2 parts aromatics: Aromatics include onion, scallion, shallots, or garlic.

In many areas, beans and rice are often served side by side rather than combined. Either way, they may be considered a meal, frequently with a topping of meat or chicken. Meat or other ingredients are sometimes placed atop beans and rice or, less frequently, mixed into it. Different regions have different preferences.