Stewed Fava Beans with Tahini MAKES: 4 servings TIME: About 11/2 hours, largely unattended Cooked beans and tahini always make a great combo, with real depth, richness, and incredible flavor. This mix can also be pured and served as a dip with toasted pita chips, like...
Flageolets, French Style MAKES: 4 servings TIME: 1 to 2 hours, largely unattended Flageolets, the small pale green beans that are actually immature kidney beans, are adored in Western Europe and are known for their delicate flavor. The addition of cream simply...
Black Beans with Orange Juice MAKES: 4 servings TIME: 30 minutes with cooked beans An odd-sounding combination, but trust me, a delicious one. The sweet acidity of the orange juice works nicely with the earthy flavor of the black beans. Using a fruity red wine...
Chili non Carne MAKES: 6 to 8 servings TIME: About 2 hours, largely unattended A straightforward and delicious chili that can be completely customized to your taste. Increase or decrease just about anything or add pressed tofu, tempeh, or even nuts to bulk up the...
Espresso Black Bean Chili MAKES: 6 to 8 servings TIME: 11/2 to 2 hours, largely unattended This deep, richly flavored chili has enough caffeine to keep you awake literally. (Bear this in mind when you're serving it; use decaffeinated espresso if you or your guests are...
Black Soybeans with Soy Sauce MAKES: At least 4 servings TIME: About 2 hours A popular side dish in Korea and Japan, these are intensely flavored and delicious, with an unusual and wonderfully firm texture. Other beans you can use: regular soybeans or black beans. 1/2...
Spicy Soybeans with Kimchi MAKES: 4 servings TIME: 11/2 hours A wonderful way to incorporate kimchi into a main dish. The kimchis pungency and spice are absorbed by the soybeans, creating a deeply flavored and warming onepot meal. Other beans you can use: pinto,...
Black-Eyed Peas with Smoked Tofu MAKES: 6 to 8 servings TIME: About 21/2 hours, largely unattended In all good conscience I can't call this hoppin John, the classic southern bean and rice dish, because it doesn't have a ham hock. And since I'm not a fan of faux meats,...
White Bean Pure MAKES: 4 servings TIME: 10 minutes with cooked beans One of the most useful bean preparations there is, this pure can serve as a side dish, sauce, spread, or dip (and is great as an appetizer served with bread or pita chips and carrot and celery sticks...
Refried Bean Dip MAKES: At least 8 servings TIME: 10 minutes with cooked beans A basic bean dip that's great with tortilla chips, though you could serve it with almost anything: raw sliced vegetables; grilled, broiled, or fried tofu cubes; pita, toast, or crackers you...
Hummus MAKES: 4 to 6 servings TIME: 15 minutes with cooked chickpeas A Middle Eastern classic that's become a standby dip or spread in many homes in the United States, hummus has that distinctive chickpea flavor mixed with the nuttiness of tahini. Make it as nutty,...
Chickpea Fondue MAKES: 6 to 8 servings TIME: 20 minutes with cooked chickpeas Throughout the Mediterranean, chickpeas are often pured to make rich sauces, and that's the idea behind this wonderful spin on fondue. When you cook chick-peas yourself (which is what I...