Beans and Grain Recipes

Granny's minestrone is a hearty vegan vegetable soup packed with carrots, cabbage, zucchini, leeks and kidney beans in a tomato broth, finished with elbow macaroni. Slow-simmered for deep, comforting flavor.

Senate bean soup with navy beans, smoked ham hock, potatoes, and an onion pique, half-pureed for a creamy-chunky texture. The famous US Capitol dining room recipe.

Cumin and garlic pinto beans simmered low and slow with onion, a single slice of bacon, and whole cumin seeds. The classic Tex-Mex side, sturdier and tastier than canned. Quick-soak method skips the overnight wait.

Eugenia Potter's 27 Ingredient Chili Con Carn recipe

Rice and bean casserole with brown rice, pink beans, cottage cheese, and wheat germ, topped with sesame seeds. A high-protein vegetarian one-dish meal.

Fried okra soup with salt pork, lima beans, corn, tomatoes, and cabbage simmered into a thick Southern vegetable soup. Browning the okra in pork drippings adds smoky depth and keeps the okra from getting slimy.

Quick Southeast Asian rice vermicelli with crisp-tender vegetables, ginger, garlic, sesame oil, and roasted peanuts. Ready in 25 minutes by microwave or stovetop with both methods included.

Kare-kare is a rich Filipino meat and vegetable stew in peanut sauce, simmering pork hocks and stewing beef with eggplant, green beans, and annatto-tinted oil. Serve with rice and bagoong.

Mexican manicotti: pasta shells stuffed with beef, refried beans, and cumin, smothered in corn and picante salsa. A microwave-friendly fusion casserole on the table in under 40 minutes.

Spicy black beans and brown rice simmered with salsa, cumin, garlic, and hot pepper sauce. Pantry-friendly vegan dinner that comes together in one skillet for under a dollar a serving.

Italian balsamic chicken: grilled chicken breasts marinated in balsamic, olive oil, and herbs, then sliced into strips for salads, wraps, or antipasto boards. Meal-prep friendly protein with big flavor.

Moroccan stew simmers sweet potato, chickpeas, squash, and carrots in a warm blend of cumin, turmeric, cinnamon, and paprika, with raisins for a sweet-savory lift. A hearty vegan tagine-style stew over couscous.

Ham and biscuit skillet dinner with diced ham, lima beans, stewed tomatoes, kale, and fluffy buttermilk biscuits baked right in the pan. A one-skillet Southern weeknight meal ready in 35 minutes.

Classic Cuban black bean soup simmered with smoked ham, green pepper, cumin, oregano, and a splash of dark rum. Topped with chopped hard-boiled egg and raw onion.

One-pot spicy lentil soup with tomatoes, carrots, celery, cayenne, and cumin. High-fiber, naturally vegan, and dead simple. Just dump everything in and let it simmer.

Three-bean salad packed with green beans, kidney beans, chickpeas, corn, celery, carrots, and pimientos in a sweet-and-tangy vinegar dressing. The classic potluck make-ahead. Keeps in the fridge for weeks and gets better with time.