Cooking & Baking

Retrograde

(11,423 posts)

42. Start with black beans

Thu Mar 21, 2013, 10:59 PM

Mar 2013

IMHO the tastiest of the common beans, then add cumin, onions, garlic, maybe a chipotle with adobo, to the cooking liquid. Serve as a soup with a garnish of lime and/or cilantro.

I do a bean dish as a main course at least once a week, and the spices make all the difference. You can get the best results if you start with good quality dried beans, the fresher the better (i.e., get them at a store that has high turnover in its stock, or grow them yourself). I don't taste much difference between adding seasonings as I cook the beans, or adding them when I make the main dish.

Two of my favorite bean cookbooks are The Bean Harvest Cookbook and The Rancho Gordo Heirloom Bean Cookbook. If you pick up an Indian cookbook you'll find lots of recipes for garbanzo and for lentil dishes.

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What can you do with beans to make them tasty? [View all] Neoma Mar 2013 OP

Feed them to a pig. Make bacon. /nt TheMadMonk Mar 2013 #1

Trying to become vegetarian here. Neoma Mar 2013 #2

Put them in a burrito. ZombieHorde Mar 2013 #3

Well, I was thinking brown rice, spinach and beans. Neoma Mar 2013 #5

There's always rotelle tomatoes for a quick fix, and if you find the regular rotelle too hot, winter is coming Mar 2013 #37

It depends on what kind of beans Major Nikon Mar 2013 #4

I like to make a black bean soup yellerpup Mar 2013 #6

I almost always put a bay leaf (or two if they're small) in the pot while I'm japple Mar 2013 #7

Sofrito! Le Taz Hot Mar 2013 #8

Pork cuts BainsBane Mar 2013 #9

I just need to eat better than chicken flavored ramen noodle or party pizza. Neoma Mar 2013 #13

the thing about beans BainsBane Mar 2013 #14

Smoked pepper might work... Neoma Mar 2013 #15

that's a good idea! BainsBane Mar 2013 #16

Ever had that? Neoma Mar 2013 #20

I've have roasted chilies BainsBane Mar 2013 #21

I meant black pepper that is smoked. Neoma Mar 2013 #35

That sounds good. I have smoked salt. I may have to..... Hotler Mar 2013 #48

Liquid smoke Goblinmonger Mar 2013 #29

Yes, indeed. Bolo Boffin Mar 2013 #45

I always thought Goblinmonger Mar 2013 #47

Definitely a little meat goes a long way Retrograde Mar 2013 #43

Oh you kids! What am I to do?????? :) Hotler Mar 2013 #50

Uh, that's not why I'm becoming vegetarian. Neoma Mar 2013 #51

Cool! n/t Hotler Mar 2013 #52

I made some black eyed beans last weekend lizerdbits Mar 2013 #10

Green, yellow, red pepper... one_voice Mar 2013 #11

Yup, you got it, one_voice! elleng Mar 2013 #12

I don't like beans much but if I make them, Melissa G Mar 2013 #17

We started eating them after my husband... one_voice Mar 2013 #19

Smoked turkey legs or wings, meat pulled off the bone and added towards the japple Mar 2013 #28

I use that when I make.. one_voice Mar 2013 #38

pinto Beans dem in texas Mar 2013 #18

I love me some beans! LancetChick Mar 2013 #22

As a kid... Neoma Mar 2013 #23

Humble home-cooked beans - Jamie Oliver Buck Turgidson Mar 2013 #24

how about black bean cakes? grasswire Mar 2013 #25

Chipotle black bean soup. Lugnut Mar 2013 #26

Pasta e Fagioli Fortinbras Armstrong Mar 2013 #27

Lentil Pasta Sauce Goblinmonger Mar 2013 #30

Lentil Taco Filling Goblinmonger Mar 2013 #31

Frijoles de Olla Goblinmonger Mar 2013 #32

Another suggestion is a French cassoulet Fortinbras Armstrong Mar 2013 #33

This is how I usually fix beans Coyote_Bandit Mar 2013 #34

Heck, just try mustard. eppur_se_muova Mar 2013 #36

Haven't tried it, but it sounds good, and it is from a trusted source. Sentath Mar 2013 #39

Lemon juice, garlic, and olive oil GoCubsGo Mar 2013 #40

here's a post I did years ago NMDemDist2 Mar 2013 #41

Start with black beans Retrograde Mar 2013 #42

White bean stew Trailrider1951 Mar 2013 #44

In a related question: noamnety Mar 2013 #46

Here are my thoughts...... Hotler Mar 2013 #49

How about Bean Salad? Whisp Mar 2013 #53