I first gave up eating meat at 18 as a freshman in college. As I also wasn't wealthy, I quickly learned that beans and whole wheat bread made a complete protein (we were really, really into protein combining 40 years ago). I learned to love beans even more than I had growing up.
These days, I keep pintos, Great Northerns, blackeyed peas, black beans, red kidney beans, three different lentils, baby and big limas, and more--I keep them in 1/2 gallon Mason jars, vacuum sealed, in my kitchen. Oh--and green split peas. Even though I eat meat these days, and often will season beans and/or chili with meat, I can just as easily enjoy them vegetarian.
Are others here also fans of beans? I made an amazing little recipe tonight and did it in my little Hawkins 1.5 litre pressure cooker:
1 cup Great Northern
1/2 cup Sweet Baby Ray's
1/4 onion, diced any size
And that's it! Dump those beans in your tiny pressure cooker with about 1 1/2 cups of water, not precise. Cook them for 15 minutes from dry, quick pressure release. Drain most water off, add 1/2 cup approx. of BBQ sauce and onions. I also added a few red pepper flakes and a tiny amount of Liquid Smoke/pecan. Keep about 1/2 in. of water above the beans, at least. PC for 15 minutes and that's it! Just perfect--no need to add any other ingredients. Of course, it could be duplicated in my Instant Pot or any larger pc.
I've owned the tiny 1.5 litre Hawkins pc for many years; this size is popular in India where they're made because it works so well for their complicated cuisine.
I don't recall ever finding a bean I didn't like--and I forgot the amazing Mayacoba beans, so buttery and easy to cook. To me, they're just a blessing, and such an economical meal, still.
These days, I keep pintos, Great Northerns, blackeyed peas, black beans, red kidney beans, three different lentils, baby and big limas, and more--I keep them in 1/2 gallon Mason jars, vacuum sealed, in my kitchen. Oh--and green split peas. Even though I eat meat these days, and often will season beans and/or chili with meat, I can just as easily enjoy them vegetarian.
Are others here also fans of beans? I made an amazing little recipe tonight and did it in my little Hawkins 1.5 litre pressure cooker:
1 cup Great Northern
1/2 cup Sweet Baby Ray's
1/4 onion, diced any size
And that's it! Dump those beans in your tiny pressure cooker with about 1 1/2 cups of water, not precise. Cook them for 15 minutes from dry, quick pressure release. Drain most water off, add 1/2 cup approx. of BBQ sauce and onions. I also added a few red pepper flakes and a tiny amount of Liquid Smoke/pecan. Keep about 1/2 in. of water above the beans, at least. PC for 15 minutes and that's it! Just perfect--no need to add any other ingredients. Of course, it could be duplicated in my Instant Pot or any larger pc.
I've owned the tiny 1.5 litre Hawkins pc for many years; this size is popular in India where they're made because it works so well for their complicated cuisine.
I don't recall ever finding a bean I didn't like--and I forgot the amazing Mayacoba beans, so buttery and easy to cook. To me, they're just a blessing, and such an economical meal, still.