The Great Rice and Bean Challenge

[joyofsix]

So dh has pretty much challenged me to make every Friday a bean day without boring him silly. I've got some ideas(SW beans & rice,Cuban beans and rice and red beans and rice and I think ham& beans w/ cornbread counts too) and I can google but does anyone have any tried and true recipes? The idea is it'll cut our grocery bill and be healthier for us and it's sort of our own DR joke, so anyway, anyone have any killer recipes? If I can find 8 or so it'll keep boredom at bay.

[Saule]

Are you looking at strictly beans or are you also looking at black-eyed peas, lentils, chickpeas, and things like that?

[Spirit Deer]

Three-bean salads in all their myriad variations.

Here's a bean and rice salad I made recently:

Black Bean and Rice Salad
1 can black beans, rinsed and drained
2 cups cooked wild rice
1 can whole kernel corn, drained
1 1/2 cup halved cherry tomatoes
1 red onion, peeled and chopped
1/4 cup fresh chives, snipped
1/2 cup green or yellow bell pepper. chopped
Dressing:
1/4 cup fresh cilantro, chopped
1/4 c. olive oil
4 T. lime juice
Mix all but dressing ingredients. Stir together dressing ingredients and toss with bean and rice mixture. Serve at room temp or chilled.

[mauimagic]

Love the sound of that salad - shall be making it myself soon!!

White chicken chili- posted here under recipes - is an all time favorite everywhere I take it.

Pollypurebred39 has posted an abundance of bean recipes too!!

[Palooka]

I have a really yummy bean burrito recipe that makes a ton and perfect for the freezer. Let me know if your interested before I type it all out.

One of my simple favorites is black beans in the crockpot with an added jar of your favorite salsa. You could top this with a little cheese, chips, or sour cream in a bowl if you wanted.

There is a bean thread here somewhere with some good recipes. It has a really good bean burger recipe.

[Palooka]

Here is a linky.

The Everything Bean Thread

[Contrary Housewife]

Chili with beans over rice.

Turkey taco filling -- this is essentially 1lb ground turkey browned and a can of refried beans added to it with your seasonings.

Lentil stew: cook lentils according to package directions, add soup stock, cut up carrot, onion, celery, etc. and some crumbled sausage or kielbasa.

Black bean soup. One can of beans, chicken stock, some carrot and onion and a little chopped tomato. Puree and serve garnished with salsa or queso fresca.

[starsapphire]

Koshary

Koshary Recipe - Allrecipes.com

This is tasty. I omit the ditalini pasta and the cayenne. Sometimes I don't bother marinating the chickpeas. And I just make regular rice on the side. You can omit the french fried onions too. Be sure to salt the water you cook the lentils in.

I do add a tiny bit of cinnamon - like a quarter tsp. or a little more - it adds depth of flavor but you cant really taste it.

[joyofsix]

Are you looking at strictly beans or are you also looking at black-eyed peas, lentils, chickpeas, and things like that?

Any legume is fine. I'm trying to keep any meat to a " flavoring" . I do make hummus and of course vegetarian chili. I really like the idea of the salad for hot summer meals. Thanks everyone, I knew the village would have good ideas.

[Domestic Gal]

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[Spirit Deer]

Don't forget about bean sprouts.

[lisaflex]

eat the rice and beans w/ brown rice - much better for you.

[joyofsix]

Tons of ideas out there. I may need to start a notebook of just bean recipes.

[Dancing Lotus]

Here's a favorite

Calypso Pineapple Bean Pot

This is kind of a fun bean dish; the recipe is from The Meatless Gourmet: Favorite Recipes from Around the World by Bobbie Hinman.

2 cups ripe fresh pineapple, finely chopped ( I use canned )
1 cup chopped onion
4 cloves garlic, crushed
1 tablespoon brown sugar, firmly packed (or your choice of sweetener)
3 medium ripe tomatoes, peeled and chopped (2 1/2 cups)( canned will work here too, if your in a pinch ).
2 tablespoons fresh lime juice
1 1/2 teaspoons dried oregano
1 teaspoon grated fresh lime peel
1/8 teaspoon cayenne pepper
salt to taste
1 1-pound can chick peas, rinsed and drained (or 2 cups cooked beans)
1 1-pound can kidney beans, rinsed and drained (or 2 cups of cooked beans)

In a large skillet, combine pineapple, onion, garlic and sugar. Cook over medium heat, stirring frequently, 15 minutes or until mixture becomes dry and onion begins to brown.

Add remaining ingredients, mixing well. Reduce heat to medium-low, cover, and cook 30 minutes, stirring several times while cooking.

Serve over brown rice or any other cooked grain.

[Saule]

I had this for dinner yesterday and for llunch today - wrapped in a a warmed flour tortilla, Black-Eyed Pea Salad Recipe - Food.com - 434843

I love lentil soups, they can be thickened by using additional lentils and served over rice, or just eaten as is to provide the protein base for a meal, Turkish Red Lentil Soup Recipe - Food.com - 140836 Yellow Mung Dal Soup - Dal Shorba Recipe - Food.com - 451324 Curried Lentil Soup Recipe - Food.com - 361854

Falafel is a great meal, Falafel Recipe - Food.com - 351590
Crock Pot Falafel Recipe - Food.com - 309140

And of course there must be a million curries based on beans/legumes of various sorts, if your family likes curries.