The humble bean, whether black, kidney, pinto, or chickpeas, can comfort on a chilly evening or refresh in a salad on a hot summer day: the possibilities are endless. Our go-to bean brand has to be Bold Bean Co, whose beans are something else: they melt in the mouth and are a notch well above others you can find in supermarkets. Although a bit more expensive, these beans are worth it and once tried, you'll be hard pushed to try any others. With two recipe books by the company's founder, Amelia Christie-Miller, under its belt already, you can also find a good selection of recipes here.
These are the bean-packed recipes we love and which, even better, are ultra-easy and quick to throw together.
Zesty, Herby Green Butterbean with Creamy Burrata
Nats Nourishments
As luck would have it, Natalia Rudin has just started a series of bean recipes on her Instagram account in a drive to encourage more people to eat beans and consequently increase their fibre intake. We recommend you follow Nats but as a taster of what's to come, check out this recipe, which we're loving. First off it's so easy, you can use any greens you have in your fridge. Here Nats uses cavolo nero and spinach which she blanches before whizzing up and adding to the simmering beans. The final touch is burrata, some lemon zest and a slice of toasted sourdough with olive oil. Find the recipe here.
Crisp And Sticky Kale And Butter Beans With Balsamic Vinegar
Delicious Magazine
A really good bean dish is all in the texture. This, with its crisped butter beans and sweet and sticky balsamic-glazed kale, is as good as it gets and would work beautifully as a delicious and healthy side to a roast or alone as a seriously tasty mid-week supper. Get the recipe.
White Bean Dip
Love & Lemons
Who needs shop-bought hummus? This alternative requires just four ingredients and five spare minutes – and a food processor certainly helps, although you could do things the old-fashioned way with a pestle and mortar if you’re so inclined. Simply chuck in the cannellini beans, lemon, olive oil and salt and then top with your favourite herbs, grab some pitta and dig straight in. Get the recipe.
Lemon Chickpea Pesto Orzo Broth
Bold Bean Co
Here's a dish that transcends the seasons: it's equally good in mid winter as it is in summer. It's light, bright and zingy and the orzo and nutty Queen Chickpeas add the comfort factor in spoonfuls. It's the sort of thing you want to eat when you've had a tough day or are feeling a bit rough as it'll give you some energy to face the world. Flakes of cooked chicken would work well with it and a few peas. Get the recipe.
Braised Courgettes And Cannellini Beans
Olive Magazine
A one-pot is always a winner in our books, minimising time, effort and, crucially, washing up. This is true hearty fare, pairing courgette and cannellini beans with the salty bite of the parmesan, the kick of the chilli and the zing of the lemon. A perfect dish to make for hungry friends – and to serve with some good, crusty bread. Get the recipe.
Butter Bean & Chorizo Stew
BBC Good Food
Finding food that the whole family will eat without spending a small fortune at the supermarket feels increasingly like a feat that one might require a magician’s hat (and skill) to conjure up. This butter bean and chorizo stew recipe from BBC Good Food ticks all the boxes, combining just four ingredients into a delicious pot. You could, of course, make the pesto yourself, which would add a little to the labour and the cost but provides added flavour and freshness. But, if you’re short on time, a jar will do just fine too. No judgement here nor, indeed, amongst real friends. Get the recipe.
