Twice-Cooked (Refried) Beans MAKES: 4 servings TIME: 20 minutes with cooked beans This is an instance in which you want to avoid canned beans: Since there are so few ingredients and vegetarians obviously can’t use the traditional lard the predominant flavor and…
Spicy Red Beans, Indian Style MAKES: 8 servings TIME: About 2 hours The spicy combination of beans and tomato sauce will remind you of chili, only with a twist. This freezes well, but if you don’t want the leftovers or aren’t feeding a crowd, it’s…
White Beans, Tuscan Style MAKES: 6 to 8 servings TIME: 1 to 2 hours, largely unattended A rustic and almost indispensable bean dish one of my kids used to love it as an after-school snack that can be served hot, cold, or at room temperature. Serve it with a salad and…
Dried Fruit and Lima Stew MAKES: 4 servings TIME: 1 hour with cooked, fresh, or frozen limas With its chewy texture and bold flavor, dried fruit makes an excellent base for a stew as long as it’s not overcooked (when it is, it falls apart, which isn’t the…
Beans and Greens MAKES: 4 servings TIME: 1 to 21/2 hours I never tire of this classic combination, especially since there are so many possible variations. Regardless of the flavors, it’s a texture thing; the beans should be somewhat creamy and the greens should…
Beans and Mushrooms MAKES: 4 servings TIME: 1 to 21/2 hours, depending on the bean The earthy flavors of beans and mushrooms complement each other perfectly; use dried or fresh mushrooms, in virtually any combination see the variations. To emphasize the mushroom…
Braised Lentils, Spanish Style MAKES: 4 servings TIME: 45 minutes Earthy and slightly smoky (use Spanish pimentіn, the wonderful smoky paprika). Make it saucy but not soupy you want enough liquid to sop up with crusty bread. Add a salad and you have a good, simple…
Quick-Cooked Edamame with Kombu Dashi or Soy Sauce MAKES: 4 servings TIME: 15 minutes This super-easy and delicious little dish cooks up in no time and makes a terrific lunch hot or cold on top of soba noodles or rice. If you don’t have dashi or stock, use soy…
Kidney Beans with Apples and Sherry MAKES: 4 servings TIME: 20 minutes with cooked beans Sauting produces a texture completely different from that of stewed bean dishes, with distinct, separate ingredients. The apples make this dish especially nice with simple boiled…
Gigantes with Brussels Sprouts MAKES: 4 servings TIME: 20 minutes with cooked beans The varied textures and rustic flavors of this dish make it a real winner. It’s incredibly versatile as well: Substitute just about any vegetable for the Brussels sprouts and use…
Fried Mung Beans with Sesame MAKES: 4 servings TIME: 15 minutes with cooked beans Super-simple, especially if you have cooked beans on hand. And because the beans are not at all soupy, you can use this as an ingredient to fortify other recipes like Fried Rice, Mashed…
Edamame with Tomatoes and Cilantro MAKES: 4 servings TIME: 25 minutes This simple but high-powered recipe can take two completely different forms depending on technique: Cook the tomatoes with their juices for a saucy dish or add them at the last minute for a fresher,…