12 Creative Ways to Cook With Beans
We’ve all done it – looked at that can of beans in the pantry and resigned ourselves to a night of chili for dinner. While we’d never knock a good chili recipe, sometimes you just want a little more variety in your cooking. If you find yourself in the same boat, you’re going to love this list of creative ways to use all those inexpensive but versatile cans of beans you have on your pantry shelves.
1. Make a dip or spread
Looking for a new way to use up those cans of white beans you have on hand? Turn it into a delicious dip or spread. If you’re new to bean spreads, you’ll want to give them a try asap. Making one can be as fanciful as whipping up a luxurious pâté or simply straining, mashing and spreading beans onto a thick slice of crusty bread.
2. Toss them in salads
Beans are notoriously high in protein and make a delightful addition to both warm and cold salads, so there’s no excuse not to give it a try. Chickpeas and black beans are among the most popular choices for this application, but you can also mix pinto beans with other ingredients like avocados, peppers, corn and tomatoes to enjoy a colorful salad version of cowboy caviar.
3. Bake them into muffins
Is there anything you can’t bake into a muffin these days? This is another great way to sneak some extra protein and fiber into an otherwise carb-heavy treat. You can also go this route if you know someone who would enjoy a flour-free snack. Alongside cocoa powder, coconut oil and a little maple syrup, no one would be able to tell that you used black beans to make a rich and hearty batch of muffins.
Recipe: Flourless Black Bean Brownie Muffins
4. Puree them into tomato soup
Few people would turn up their noses at a steaming bowl of fresh tomato soup on a cool autumn day. But you have to admit that as delicious as it tastes, it doesn’t always keep you satisfied long enough to make it to the next meal. Want to know the perfect solution for that? Add beans. A cup of cannellini beans, once cooked and pureed into tomato soup, offers a boost of protein to bulk up a meal that could otherwise be a little too light.
5. Add them to pasta sauces
You may have experimented in the past with adding pureed vegetables to your pasta sauces (most likely to bump up your children’s vegetable intake without them knowing, right?). But have you ever considered adding beans into the mix? Saute cooked chickpeas in garlic and olive oil, sprinkle in a little salt and pepper, and puree with a few splashes of water to enjoy a creamy, fiber-filled sauce.
6. Experiment with brownies
What would you say if we told you that you can use black beans to make brownies? Combined with cocoa powder, oats, maple syrup and chocolate chips, you would be shocked to discover there were any black beans in these brownies at all. You could even bring an entire pan to your next get-together with friends and family and no one would be able to tell they were made with a can of ordinary black beans.
7. Season and roast them
Seasoned and roasted beans make for a healthy and filling snack when you need a little extra oomph to make it through the afternoon. Sure, coffee will do in a pinch, but why not experiment with roasted chickpeas instead? You might find that you prefer a little less caffeine.
8. Add them to smoothies
We know what you’re thinking – things are getting a little weird now. Beans in smoothies? But when you use other ingredients, like cocoa powder or mango slices, you’d be surprised at what all you can sneak into these healthy snacks. There are plenty of recipes out there to help you get creative with boosting your smoothie’s protein and fiber content. Consider a chocolate black bean smoothie, a strawberry and blueberry white bean smoothie or a mango white bean smoothie.
9. Whip up fresh hummus
Hummus is traditionally made with chickpeas, and there’s nothing wrong with the classic version. But did you know you can also make black bean hummus? What about cannellini humus? You can whip up hummus from virtually any canned variety of bean as long as you have a food processor, a little garlic and olive oil. Tahini is often used in traditional hummus recipes, but you can do without it in a pinch.
10. Sprout them
If you’ve spent your whole life avoiding beans because they make your stomach feel a little topsy-turvy, you may be pleased to learn that sprouting beans could be your ticket to reintroducing these healthy and affordable ingredients back into your diet. This simple process allows you to make your own bean sprouts, which is the perfect solution for anyone who has struggled digesting beans in the past. And if you’re wondering how to use them, consider adding them to salads, sandwiches or wraps for an extra boost of vitamin C, B and fiber.
See more: 40 Nourishing Recipes You Can Make With Pantry Staples
11. Make burgers
Black bean burgers, chickpea burgers, white bean burgers – the list goes on and on. But one thing they all have in common is that they’re delicious, healthy and a fantastic way to practice meatless Mondays. There are some seriously succulent recipes out there these days, such as this outside-the-box sunflower seed veggie burger or this tried-and-true black bean burger.
See more: 10 Ways to Become a Better Cook
12. Practice frugality
Last, but certainly not least, you can always use canned beans to stretch your grocery budget. Rather than breaking into an entire pound of ground beef for Taco Tuesday, supplement with pinto beans so you only need half a pound of meat instead. You can do the same thing with enchiladas, salads, quesadillas and even pasta dishes. Don’t be afraid to get creative – you never know what clever concoction may become your family’s new favorite dinner.