Beans and Grain recipe collection

German-style two-bean soup with white beans, green beans, ham, potatoes, and a roux-thickened beef broth. A thick, hearty old-world soup that simmers low and slow for deep, satisfying flavor.

Hearty vegetarian two-bean stew with potatoes, carrots, turnip, and herbs, thickened with a flour slurry. Pick any two beans you have on hand.

A hearty two-meat chili: ground round and hot Italian sausage simmered with pink beans, black beans, peppers, and a cornmeal thickener. Feeds 15, perfect for game day or a freezer stash.

Unadulterated black bean soup with dried beans, ham hocks, red and yellow onion, pureed silky smooth and finished with dry sherry. A purist's approach with no spices masking the beans.

Uncle Roy's chili: a meatless vegetarian chili with two kinds of canned tomatoes, kidney beans, three tablespoons of chili powder, and a serious shot of hot pepper sauce. Pantry-friendly weeknight one-pot dinner.

Unsloppy Joes are vegetarian sloppy joes with kidney beans, crushed tomatoes, chili powder, and diced vegetables served in hollowed-out kaiser rolls. Low-fat, hearty, and mess-free.

Yeast-free brown rice bread made with whole wheat flour and cooked brown rice. Hand-kneaded 300 times and naturally leavened overnight. Dense, hearty, and vegan.

Unyeasted fruit and nut bread made with whole wheat, rye, and roasted barley flour, studded with raisins, sunflower seeds, dried apricots, and chopped nuts. Dense, hearty wild-fermented hippie loaf.

Valencian red beans and rice simmered with bell peppers, fresh tomatoes, pimento-stuffed olives, allspice, and cilantro. A one-pot Spanish-Caribbean side with warm, savory depth.

Valencian red beans and rice with bell peppers, fresh tomatoes, pimento-stuffed olives, allspice, and cilantro. A one-pot Caribbean-meets-Spanish vegetarian dish.

A homemade vanilla pecan liqueur: brandy slowly infused with pecans, vanilla beans, and cinnamon, then sweetened with sugar syrup. A smooth, nutty after-dinner sipper worth the weeks-long wait.

Varicose Veins on a Leaf is a creepy Halloween appetizer with French-style green beans dyed red to look like veins, arranged on lettuce leaves with sliced almond bones. Spooky, edible, fun.

Veal cutlets pan-fried until golden, then simmered in a tangy apple-lemon pan sauce with mushrooms and a velvety apple puree. A French-Norman style weeknight veal dinner.

Very low-fat vegan pastry crust made with soy milk, mashed potatoes, whole wheat flour, and yeast. No butter or oil needed for a soft, pliable dough that rises beautifully.

Vegan black bean soup with bay leaves, whole cloves, onion, garlic, mustard, and chili powder. Pure pantry cooking. Just simmer, puree, season. Naturally gluten-free.

Vegan Cuban-style black beans with two stages of green pepper, classic sofrito, and a finish of apple cider vinegar. Slow-simmered until the beans crack open. Plant-based comfort that holds its own.