Most people appreciate beans for their brusque, no-nonsense nutrition; they are healthful, packed with iron and fiber, and, most importantly, they are always there. No matter your mood, no matter your level of hanger, no matter your astrological symbol, beans are always waiting, patiently, in your cabinet, ready to be braised (and dinner).
Convenience and health aside, beans can also be a meal that you look forward to eating. When you braise your beans it turns them from kidney-shaped protein packets into something silky, luxurious, and covetable. Yes, you should use dry beans, if possible (here are 10 reasons why, if you needed more of a nudge)—but we don't always live in the ideal world. Don't fret—canned beans take to braising like a fish to water. (If you are using dried beans, should you soak them overnight? It's unclear—but we tentatively say not worth it). Canned or dried, braising will increase your beans' appeal tenfold.
What type of bean? Any will work (except maybe green—though try it and let us know how it goes). Cannellini beans work well if you're aiming for an Italian-esque dish, though Gigante beans are delicious, too, and their large size equates to creamier interiors. Pinto, Great Northern, Borlotti, kidney, and black beans are all excellent options, as well.
Tip: Before cooking, make sure to check how old your dried beans are and prepare them accordingly.
If you're using beans from a can, strain them, rinse them, and tip them into a large pot. Said pot might contain some softened alliums, or possible some sautéed carrots and celery; it must contain a generous glug (or two) of olive oil. I like to throw in some thyme or rosemary stems and even a Parmesan rind, if I have one kicking around in my freezer (yet another reason to save your rinds!). Cover the whole mess with broth (vegetable, parmesan, or chicken work best), and bring it to a simmer. Turn down the heat and cook until the beans are very tender (or as long as you can possibly stand it). This typically takes around 30 minutes, but you can leave them going for longer if you have the time—they'll only improve. Periodically smash some of the beans against the side of the pot with the back of a spoon to thicken the whole situation into something on the spectrum between a thick stew and a smooth purée.
If you're using dried beans, everything can happen in one pot. Once your legumes are cooked (which can take anywhere from thirty minutes to two hours depending on your cooking method, the age of the beans, and their size), along with the onion and carrot and bay leaf and herb stems and whatever else you threw in to flavor them, just keep simmering; as the liquid reduces, smash some of the beans with the back of your spoon. Keep stirring, smashing, and reducing until the whole thing is silky, creamy, and as thick as you'd like.
Once your beans are braised and bubbling and flavorful, here are 6 ways to turn them into a meal. (Though if you want to just shower the whole thing in cheese and eat it straight from the pot, no judgment.)
An oldie but a goodie. Grill, toast, or even fry thick slices bread, drizzle them with olive oil, and rub with a garlic clove. Cloak the whole thing in a thick blanket of braised beans. Grate on some cheese, sprinkle with spices, or gild the lily with more olive oil and a pinch of fancy-pants salt.
Add some more broth to your bean pot, perhaps a can of tomatoes and/or some chunks of sausage or greens, and call it a soup! Throw in a few shakes Southwestern spices, a diced pepper or two, and chunks of sweet potato and you've got a vegan chili. Or go the Marcella way (absolutely never a wrong turn) and keep things pleasantly simple to let the beans' flavor sing.
Quinoa or couscous would be an ideal grain base to catch all of the bean liquid, but farro, polenta, bulgar, or rice would work beautifully, too! Or cook some pasta to al dente, add it to the pot of beans along with a hefty splash of pasta cooking water, and simmer until everything is thick and lovely. (If you want a guide, follow this recipe for pasta e fagioli). In all cases, it's a good idea to top the whole situation with a fried or poached egg.
You could always do as Sarah Jampel does and turn your braised, smushed beans into a filling for quesadillas, burritos, wraps, or sandwiches. Or use them to make enfrijoladas or enchiladas. Ladle them into store-bought arepas (or homemade ones, if you're a domestic god/goddess). Use them as a layer in lasagna or a tortilla casserole. Every dish deserves to be filled with braised beans!
Braised beans are a silky, protein-heavy base for whatever leftovers you have lying around. On a busy night they can serve as a creamy buffer for the remains of a rotisserie chicken or some charred broccoli and lemon, and on a fancier occasion they can be a bed for meats (like this lamb shank). They're also an excellent gluten-free, complex carb-heavy base for juicy braises or stews.
You could always just say "screw it" and reduce your braised beans until they're thick and creamy, and then use tortilla chips, pita crisps, slices of carrot or bell pepper, or a torn baguette to scoop them up like a chunky dip. Done and done.
Are you a fan of the braised bean? What's your favorite way to eat them? Tell us below!
A New Way to Dinner, co-authored by Food52's founders Amanda Hesser and Merrill Stubbs, is an indispensable playbook for stress-free meal-planning (hint: cook foundational dishes on the weekend and mix and match ‘em through the week).
Order now
Written by: Catherine Lamb
Popular on Food52
20 Comments
My grandmother taught us early. Fry the beans in oil, garlic and thyme or rosemary. Boil till dry three times over and then purée in blender. Leave a 1/2 cup of beans aside to add back to purée. Simmer for few and serve over rice, meats or eat with bread! Any dry bean will do.
As described, you are not braising them!
The easiest way around this by far is to use a pressure-cooker.
In a Dutch oven, saute diced onion (1), bell pepper (1), garlic (a few cloves), and a jalapeno (optional) in 2T. olive oil until soft & translucent. Add 2 lg. cans (undrained) of your favorite baked beans (I like the original or homestyle flavors for this because you will be adding so much flavor). Then add 1T. of mustard (Dijon or yellow), 1/4 cup brown sugar (lt. or dk.), 1T Worcestershire sauce, and 1 cup of your favorite salsa or a can of Rotel (mild, med., or hot per your taste - I like chunky). Now simmer and reduce to a thick oven baked bean consistency. Crumbled cooked bacon (obviously de-veganizes the dish though. But if you're not vegan/vegetarian, you can cook said bacon first, then saute your onions in peppers, & garlic in bacon grease instead of olive oil. Honestly, that's what I do;) and cilantro or sliced green onions sprinkled over just before serving is a nice finishing touch. Enjoy!!
Beans are full of carbs.... I don't know what you were thinking. Or did I misunderstand what the subject of this statement is?
Join The Conversation