Around the world in 180 beans or less
January 21, 2025 2:59 PM Subscribe
Beans, beans, the musical fruit been found in ancient Egyptian tombs and are mentioned in the Illiad. They were cultivated in Peru as early as the second millennium B.C.E. (Warning: Raw beans of the Phaseolus genus have a toxin (phytohaemagglutinin) that requires cooking at high temperatures to neutralize).
Beans are frequently hailed as a cheap and nutritious pantry mainstay - offering fiber, potassium, and even some protein. They are the basis of tofu, hummus, chili, cassoulet, and bean salad. In fact, one could hypothetically explore the world from the perspective of bean dishes.
Many myths exist around the cooking of beans, and there's nothing like testing to find the truth. For example, this breakdown on cooking chickpeas from The Kitchn. You may however dream of other beans, it's allowed.
Canned, frozen or dried beans and legumes can be the basis of a number of meals: tray bake with kale and chorizo, tamarind curry, pizza beans, beans on toast, beans and greens, hummus, baked beans, cozy black bean soup, natto, in the style of risotto, and more.
For those who love and use heirloom beans, the Rancho Gordo bean-cooking tutorial and recipe collection are invaluable.
Those with instant pots can turn to Priya Krishna’s magical dal formula and its accompanying chart for a cozy, elevated meal.
And there's no need to be limited to lunch and dinner - beans are also for breakfast.
Beans are frequently hailed as a cheap and nutritious pantry mainstay - offering fiber, potassium, and even some protein. They are the basis of tofu, hummus, chili, cassoulet, and bean salad. In fact, one could hypothetically explore the world from the perspective of bean dishes.
Many myths exist around the cooking of beans, and there's nothing like testing to find the truth. For example, this breakdown on cooking chickpeas from The Kitchn. You may however dream of other beans, it's allowed.
Canned, frozen or dried beans and legumes can be the basis of a number of meals: tray bake with kale and chorizo, tamarind curry, pizza beans, beans on toast, beans and greens, hummus, baked beans, cozy black bean soup, natto, in the style of risotto, and more.
For those who love and use heirloom beans, the Rancho Gordo bean-cooking tutorial and recipe collection are invaluable.
Those with instant pots can turn to Priya Krishna’s magical dal formula and its accompanying chart for a cozy, elevated meal.
And there's no need to be limited to lunch and dinner - beans are also for breakfast.
Non-culinary uses for dry beans:
Pie Weights - line your pie crust with foil or parchment paper then add the beans. You can even reuse the beans to blind bake over and over again.
Brush Holder - Fill a glass cup with beans and stick brushes handle-down in them.
DIY Maracas - Fill one half of a plastic Easter egg with beans and tape the seam closed. Insert the egg between two plastic spoons, then finish by covering the whole thing with colorful tape.
Wrist Support Pad / Heating Pad - Cut fabric into two equal sizes and sew them together like a pillowcase. Fill with beans, then sew the final side to close up the bag. Alternatively, use a long rectangle of fabric (ex. for draping over your neck) and heat it in the microwave for a minute or so for warm muscle relief. Or use smaller squares to make beanbags, and use them to learn juggling.
Eco-Friendly Exfoliator - Soak and cook the beans as usual, then blend into a paste.
Shove your hands in a large bag or container of them. Feels neat!
posted by Greg_Ace at 3:19 PM on January 21 [2 favorites]
Pie Weights - line your pie crust with foil or parchment paper then add the beans. You can even reuse the beans to blind bake over and over again.
Brush Holder - Fill a glass cup with beans and stick brushes handle-down in them.
DIY Maracas - Fill one half of a plastic Easter egg with beans and tape the seam closed. Insert the egg between two plastic spoons, then finish by covering the whole thing with colorful tape.
Wrist Support Pad / Heating Pad - Cut fabric into two equal sizes and sew them together like a pillowcase. Fill with beans, then sew the final side to close up the bag. Alternatively, use a long rectangle of fabric (ex. for draping over your neck) and heat it in the microwave for a minute or so for warm muscle relief. Or use smaller squares to make beanbags, and use them to learn juggling.
Eco-Friendly Exfoliator - Soak and cook the beans as usual, then blend into a paste.
Shove your hands in a large bag or container of them. Feels neat!
posted by Greg_Ace at 3:19 PM on January 21 [2 favorites]
Hi, I'm on Metafilter and I can appreciate a post about beans.
posted by mmoncur at 3:45 PM on January 21
posted by mmoncur at 3:45 PM on January 21
Here in Guatemala we eat beans for breakfast almost every day. Some people like to eat them at every meal (los tres tiempos).
posted by Pararrayos at 3:52 PM on January 21 [4 favorites]
posted by Pararrayos at 3:52 PM on January 21 [4 favorites]
How I cook dried beans: put them in a pressure cooker, add water and (fresh) bay leaves. 45-60 minutes works for most things, 2 hours if cooking chickpeas for hummus. No soaking, no toxins to worry about.
posted by the duck by the oboe at 3:54 PM on January 21
posted by the duck by the oboe at 3:54 PM on January 21
My favorite bean-ful cookbook lately is Ali Slagle's I Dream of Dinner.
posted by tofu_crouton at 3:56 PM on January 21 [1 favorite]
posted by tofu_crouton at 3:56 PM on January 21 [1 favorite]
I once wrote a short-lived newsletter called "bean tips" so I am a big fan of beans!
I love breakfast beans in general and Ful Medamas in particular. In the middle ages they cooked in/around the bathhouse in Cairo overnight to serve for breakfast on the street in the morning. Hence they are basically "bath beans".
posted by SaltySalticid at 4:15 PM on January 21 [2 favorites]
I love breakfast beans in general and Ful Medamas in particular. In the middle ages they cooked in/around the bathhouse in Cairo overnight to serve for breakfast on the street in the morning. Hence they are basically "bath beans".
posted by SaltySalticid at 4:15 PM on January 21 [2 favorites]
turn to Priya Krishna’s magical dal formula
Wow thanks. I have way too much urad dal, now I'm inspired to make a big batch!
posted by 1adam12 at 4:18 PM on January 21
Wow thanks. I have way too much urad dal, now I'm inspired to make a big batch!
posted by 1adam12 at 4:18 PM on January 21
I have a good friend who had a significant other who was 'allergic' to beans. After years of diminishing returns she eventually dropped the zero (her fella) and got with the hero (fuckin' awesome beans).
The other was also allergic to cats. That may have been a factor I guess. Dunno. Will ask her at some later time.
posted by Jessica Savitch's Coke Spoon at 4:24 PM on January 21
The other was also allergic to cats. That may have been a factor I guess. Dunno. Will ask her at some later time.
posted by Jessica Savitch's Coke Spoon at 4:24 PM on January 21
Greg_Ace, thanks for the introduction to Helen Rennie. What a great resource!
SaltySalticid, I would LOVE to see your newsletter if it’s something I could look up online?
Tofu_crouton, I checked and my library has that cookbook. I have requested a hold. Thanks for the recommendation :)
posted by bunderful at 4:27 PM on January 21
SaltySalticid, I would LOVE to see your newsletter if it’s something I could look up online?
Tofu_crouton, I checked and my library has that cookbook. I have requested a hold. Thanks for the recommendation :)
posted by bunderful at 4:27 PM on January 21
This morning I put a pound of pinto beans and a pound of black-eyed peas in a dutch oven, poured a kettle of water over them, brought it to a boil, let them sit for an hour, changed the water, and then boiled them with onions, garlic, some leftover Christmas ham from the freezer, lard, and salt. There are lots of good ways to cook beans and this is one of them. Thanks for this great post.
posted by sy at 4:29 PM on January 21 [1 favorite]
posted by sy at 4:29 PM on January 21 [1 favorite]
Sorry, "bean tips" wasn't publicly available and I don't have any archive handy. Some of them were more factual and some more prescriptive or opinionated. Here's an example, I'll post more or memail you if I can find or remember any more.
Bean tip: the idea that you have to pre-soak dried beans is a lie, promoted by the canned bean industry.
posted by SaltySalticid at 4:32 PM on January 21 [1 favorite]
Bean tip: the idea that you have to pre-soak dried beans is a lie, promoted by the canned bean industry.
posted by SaltySalticid at 4:32 PM on January 21 [1 favorite]
« Older Aboriginal stories advance scientific...
But should they be?
posted by Lemkin at 3:04 PM on January 21 [4 favorites]