Beans and Grain Recipes

Chinese-style tofu stir-fried with salted black beans, mashed red beans, garlic, green chili, and soy sauce. A savory, protein-rich vegetarian main dish.

Southern soft-shell tacos loaded with canned chili, instant rice, salsa, and cheddar cheese in warm flour tortillas. A 30-minute weeknight dinner with zero fuss and maximum filling.

In other parts of Central Asia this dish is made with red beans and I have it made with beef, horse, camel, chicken, and venison for the meat instead of the lamb. It is excellent anyway it comes.

Vegetarian steamed wontons filled with seasoned tempeh, mushrooms, scallions, and ginger in a tamari-honey glaze. Serve with sweet and sour sauce for a plant-based dim sum appetizer.

Savory baked beans with great northern beans, curry powder, lemon juice, and soy sauce. An oil-free, vegan-friendly baked bean casserole with Indian-inspired spicing and no added sugar.

Vegetable chili loaded with three kinds of beans, carrots, and tomatoes. No meat, no oil, and ready in under an hour for a hearty meatless dinner.

Egg and beansprout risotto made with cracked wheat instead of rice, simmered with tomatoes, mushrooms, green pepper, and satay sauce. A hearty vegetarian one-pan dish with an Asian-British fusion twist.

Pork with red chili sauce, braised cubes of pork shoulder simmered with chili powder, cumin, oregano, garlic, and a whisper of honey. Tender Tex-Mex taco filling for warm tortillas with rice and beans.

Hot tamale pie with pinto beans, corn, and bell peppers in spiced tomato sauce topped with a cornmeal crust. A hearty vegetarian Southwestern casserole baked until golden.

Robust beans and rice casserole with lean ground beef, pinto beans, green chilies, and Southwestern spices baked together until the rice is tender. A hearty one-dish dinner.

Birnen, Bohnen und Speck: a traditional North German soup of whole pears, green beans, and bacon simmered in a savory broth. Served with boiled potatoes.

Mexican pinto bean stew with a homemade cumin-chili spice mix, zucchini, carrots, and tomato sauce. A vegan, pantry-friendly one-pot stew with a bonus spice blend recipe.

Texas caviar made from dried black beans slow-simmered with a smoky ham hock, then tossed with sauteed peppers, onions, and fresh tomatoes. A Lone Star classic side dish.

White bean salad with a blended lemon-dill dressing, garnished with sieved hard-cooked eggs, black olives, and green onions. A make-ahead cold salad with Russian roots.

Charcoal grilled salmon steaks marinated in lemon, olive oil, and basil, served over spicy black beans simmered with ham, jalapenos, and fresh thyme. A smoky, protein-packed summer plate.

Lean turkey and pinto bean chili with bell peppers, jalapeño, and chili powder. Hearty pot of chili in an hour with cooking spray instead of oil for a lighter base.