Baked Brazilian Black Beans MAKES: 4 servings TIME: About 1 hour with cooked beans, largely unattended A tropical party dish, one you can make in large quantities and ahead of time (it will taste even better the next day). Serve with lots of rice, some warm tortillas...

Boulangerie Beans and Potatoes MAKES: 4 servings TIME: 11/2 hours with cooked beans, largely unattended Boulangerie potatoes, a classic French dish, was traditionally baked in the local bakers ovens for hours until supper time; the potatoes became meltingly soft, and...

Baked Lima Beans Parmigiana MAKES: 6 servings TIME: 40 to 60 minutes The slightly grainy texture of limas works perfectly with cheese, but you can use virtually any fresh or cooked dried bean. In any case, the trick is to make sure the beans skins have not yet burst...

Baked Pinto Beans, Enchilada Style MAKES: 6 servings TIME: 40 to 60 minutes Like Baked Lima Beans Parmigiana, this dish is dead easy (especially if beans and salsa have been made ahead) and versatile. Serve with hot tortillas, shredded cabbage, hot sauce, sour cream,...

Baked Chickpeas with Fresh Cheese MAKES: 6 servings TIME: 40 to 60 minutes Fresh cheese called paneer in India and sold in many Asian and natural food stores is easy to make and is great combined with beans, especially with the tasty Spicy Indian Tomato Sauce. Paneer...

White Bean and Celery Root Gratin MAKES: 4 servings TIME: 1 hour with cooked beans, largely unattended A good cold-weather dish, one that can be made with all sorts of vegetables. Add more Parmesan for a cheesier gratin or eliminate the Parmesan altogether (and use...

Falafel MAKES: 6 servings TIME: 1 hour plus 24 hours to soak the beans One of the things that makes falafel different from other bean fritters is that it's made from uncooked beans. It's best when the beans are soaked for a full day in plenty of water; the result is a...

Chickpea-Ricotta Gnocchi MAKES: 4 servings TIME: About 1 hour Like standard gnocchi (see Potato Gnocchi), these are small boiled dumplings. Since they're based on chickpeas, not potatoes, they're heartier and more nutritious. Another benefit: The dough is a little...

Bean Croquettes MAKES: 4 servings TIME: 20 minutes with cooked beans These are fast, straightforward, and dead easy. Mix in some finely chopped vegetables, spices, or fresh herbs or change the kind of beans you use there are tons of variations. Though this basic...

Baked White Bean Cakes MAKES: 4 servings TIME: 20 minutes with cooked beans If you've got leftover White Beans, Tuscan Style, you're in luck: Just drain them of any liquid and use them here. The sage and the extra garlic will add a great layer of flavor. But if not,...