Description
Cooking beans at home is a straightforward and rewarding process that allows you to create hearty, nutritious meals with endless possibilities. Whether you’re designing a refreshing salad, a comforting soup, or a flavorful stew, understanding how to cook beans will elevate your culinary skills. This guide will help you master the art of cooking dried beans with simple steps and minimal ingredients. You’ll learn how to enhance their flavor, enjoy their health benefits, and make the most of your meals without any hassle.
Ingredients
Scale
- 2 cups dried beans (black, white, red, garbanzo)
- Water
- Sea salt
- Onion quarters or halved shallots
- Garlic cloves (smashed or sliced)
- Scrap veggies (scallion tops, fennel fronds)
- Desired spices (bay leaves, peppercorns)
Instructions
- Soak the Beans: In a large bowl, add the dried beans and cover them with water. Let them soak for 8 hours or overnight. Drain and rinse well.
- Cook the Beans: Place soaked beans in a large pot with 2 inches of fresh water. Bring to a gentle boil over medium heat and then reduce to a simmer uncovered for 30 minutes. Skim any foam from the surface.
- Add Seasoning: Stir in sea salt and your choice of aromatics (onion, garlic, scrap veggies). Simmer until tender but not mushy (up to 2 hours), adding more water if needed.
- Finish Cooking: Once tender, discard aromatics and season to taste with additional salt and pepper.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: Up to 2 hours
- Category: Main
- Method: Boiling
- Cuisine: Various
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving
- Calories: 120
- Sugar: 0g
- Sodium: 240mg
- Fat: 0.5g
- Saturated Fat: 0g
- Unsaturated Fat: 0.5g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 22g
- Fiber: 7g
- Protein: 8g
- Cholesterol: 0mg