This week’s food spotlight is on the illustrious brown bean. Beans are so versatile. They are inexpensive yet filling. Great plain or dressed up. They can be the main course or be a good side dish with a number of different themed dishes.
Just about any bean can be substituted in the following recipes. Great northern or navy are great subs. But pinto beans are what I’m using up right now.
We like to make a couple of pound of beans in one cooking. I like to make mine in the crockpot after soaking them all night. Just drain the dirty water and rinse, then place in crockpot with fresh water and your seasoning of choice. Country ham seasoning pieces are great for this, as is bacon pieces. Goya has a great powdered ham seasoning packet if you don’t have any meat available. Chicken base in paste form is also something I like to season with. And of course salt and pepper. The first night that will be our meal usually served with corn bread or hushpuppies.
But then what to do with the leftovers?
Depending on how many servings you have remaining, there are a number of different things you can make to avoid the repeat of beans again that week as the main dish. Not that there is anything wrong with that mind you. But in case you want something different here are a few ideas.
No Bake Baked Beans
2 slices bacon
2 Tbsp green pepper
1 Tbsp ketchup
1 (16oz) pork and beans(substitutre with your beans)
1\4 c. chopped onion
2 tsp mustard
1 1\2 Tbsp brown sugar
Fry bacon, reserve 2 tsp drippings. Sauté green pepper and onions in drippings 2 minutes. Add beans, mustard, sugar and ketchup. Mix well. Simmer 10 minutes stirring occasionally. Crumble bacon and stir into beans.
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Brown Beans Baked Beans
About 2 cups cooked brown beans
1\4 c. ketchup
2 Tbsp brown sugar
1\2 tsp dry mustard
1\3 c. chopped onion
Dash of cayenne pepper (opt)
1\2 tsp salt
Cooked bacon (opt)
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I like to rinse the beans for this recipe, though it isn’t necessary. Combine all ingredients, spread in a greased casserole dish, and bake until bubbly in a moderate oven.
To make either of these a main dish or heartier side just add browned and crumbled ground beef.
If you decide to make baked beans but want a twist on the traditional, then how about Slow Cooker Meat and Beans.
Slow Cooker Meat and Beans
2lb well trimmed chunks of stew meat (beef, pork, or venison)
1 cup chopped red bell pepper
½ cup chopped onion
1 bottle (18oz) BBQ sauce
Beans equivalent to 2 cans( 16 oz each) baked beans, drained
Mix meat, pepper, onion, and 1 cup sauce in crockpot. Cover and cook on high 4-5 hours. Or on low 8-10 hours until meat is very tender. Stir in remaining sauce and the beans. Continue to cook until beans are heated through.
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Bean patties are another quick fix. Take leftover cold beans and mash with an egg. Shape into patties and dredge in flour or meal and fry. You can also mix the cornmeal in the bean mixture and thin with milk until about like hushpuppy batter thickness and drop by spoonfuls into hot fat and fry. These are very good. Grated onion can be added in the batter and crushed pork rinds (that’s right the chip bag form) are good in there too.
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If you only have a small amount left over remember they can be put in a bowl in the freezer with other veggies and bits of meat and be made into soup or stew when the bowl is full.
One time I cooked an excessive amount of beans and we had beans in one form or another for a week. On this occasion I made a Pinto Bean Cake and it was actually pretty good. It’s not for everyone but worth sharing just the same.
Click the link below for the recipe
Pinto Bean Cake
A couple more favorites:
Refried Beans (with leftover beans you have most of the work already done)
Beans and Rice
If you are a bean lover then I hope this gives you a few more ideas. If you aren't a bean lover then I hope it gives you inspiration to try something new.
Beans are very sustaining and very economical. Long range shelf stability is a big plus in our house too.
In these hard times with grocery prices soaring dinners are sometimes planned around price rather than preference. But who says beans have to be boring?
If you have a favorite bean recipe, tip, or trick then feel free to share!
Have a great day!
