Simple Basic Bean Recipe: Cooking Beans

Savvy Vegetarian: How To Cook And Eat Beans Without Gas

This recipe is for pinto beans, one of the easiest beans to cook, very tasty and versatile, with a creamy texture. But you can substitute garbanzo beans, black beans, black eyed peas, kidney beans - any kind of beans.

Once you know how to cook and eat pinto beans, all other beans will easily be conquered. The basic method is exactly the same. If you don't like one kind of bean, just skip those and try some of the many other kinds of beans. Amazingly, beans all taste and act very differently. Or try lentils, especialy the Indian lentils, like mung dhal - they have a shorter soaking & cooking time.

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Helpful Bean Cooking Hints

• Keep in mind that the soaking and cooking time will vary for each kind of bean
• They've had enough soaking when they've doubled in size and have no wrinkles
• They've cooked long enough when they're completely soft
• Slow cooking is an excellent way to cook beans, but be sure to boil them & skim the foam before putting in the slow cooker or crockpot
• Same goes for pressure cooking. If you do use a pressure cooker, consult a bean cooking chart for cooking times

Bean Cooking Directions*

1. 4 - 6 servings
2. 1 c. dried pinto bean (or any other bean)
3. Sort and clean the dried beans
4. Soak the beans in boiling water for 1 - 2 hours, or 6 - 12 hours in cold water, until they're doubled in size and wrinkle free - soaking time varies with the bean
5. Drain and rinse the soaked beans
6. Place in medium saucepan, cover with cold unsalted water
7. Bring to boil uncovered, boil for ten minutes. Skim the foam off the beans with a ladle or large flat spoon
8. Cover and simmer the beans for 1 - 2 hours
9. OR cook 8 minutes at high pressure in a pressure cooker
10. Slow cooker or crockpot: Add the beans, cover and turn the heat to low. Cooking time will vary with the bean, but six hours in the crockpot on low is about right for pinto beans

Note: It's always worthwhile to double the bean recipe, and freeze in small containers or freezer bags for future vegetarian or vegan bean recipes.

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Great Bean Recipes To Make With Your Basic Beans:

Barley Bean Veggie Soup - Vegan Black Bean Veggie Burgers - Vegan Pinto Bean Stew - Vegan Refried Beans - Vegan Slightly Garlicky Hummus - Vegan Tabouleh Middle Eastern Salad White Bean Italian Style Soup - Vegan Zoë's Vegetarian Chili - Vegan Lot's More Bean & Lentil Recipes

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