butterbeans....

[Sherbetdip1]

Have decided that we have a disgusting amount of food shoved in cupboards, freezer etc (and could probably feed the nation for a good week in a disaster situation with the amount I appear to have accumulated) so in the spirit of using up not buying more I am writing out a list of everything we have and a meal to include it in.....

Butterbeans - never cooked with them but bought them to make jack and the beanstalk magic beans for my 4 year olds nursery homework....now have nearly a full bag remaining in cupboard but in date.

What can I do with them?!

Ps I realise this makes me sound like a total idiot !

They're great with chorizo, paprika, garlic and tinned tomatoes or passata in a stew type thing?

There are lots of recipes online .

There is a lovely soup nigella makes in 'how to eat'

www.food.com/recipe/grandmas-bean-and-barley-soup-nigella-lawson-vegan-403424

I was hoping this was going to be a lovely recipe I could nick.

I love a bit of garlic cooked in olive oil, chuck in butter beans and add lemon as a side dish.

Add them to stews & casseroles, eg sausage casserole or lamb stew
Add thick soups eg bean and bacon
Make a dip with them, eg artichoke & bean
Cook up with a tomato sauce and serve with sausages or pork chops

They are lovely mixed into a really strong cheese sauce & then lay bacon on the top & either grill or pop in oven & serve with crusty bread & a salad.

Ooo thanks guys! Both good ideas keep them coming....

They are good mashed with butter and lemon juice to serve with lamb.

Well now I'm totally shame myself but when you say chuck them into a stew etc do you mean literally just put them in or are you supposed to do something with them first ie) soak them or something?

If they are dried you need to soak them overnight & then boil them up in fresh water (no salt as it inhibits water absorbtion) for about 45 mins.

Make chocolate biscuits! (sorry - not helpful)

I love bean dip, it's dead easy, you soak them in water overnight or until they increase in size (no salt) then throw away the water. Put fresh water in a large saucepan and add the beans which you simmer till they're soft, don't add salt.Meanwhile gently fry some onions and garlic, or you can use raw spring onions. Throw away the cooking water but leave a bit . Using a hand held electric whisk or a mixer. In a large bowl put the beans, a tabsp. of tahini (if you like it) with the onions and garlic, olive oil, the juice of a lemon, salt and pepper to taste. whisk till smooth.

As a pp said you can add artichoke hearts or whatever you like. It freezes well too. .

Fry some chorizo til fat runs, add some garlic/onion, soften, then add some diced chicken. Then add some tomatoes- tinned or chopped cherry tomatoes work well, add butterbeans and simmer. Finish with some thyme and olive oil.

Oh brill thanks everyone lots to try here....little does my fussy DH know he's in for a week of butter bean experiments....??

www.bbcgoodfood.com/recipes/12229/gigantes-plaki

www.mygreekdish.com/recipe/gigantes-plaki-greek-baked-giant-beans/

thegreekvegan.com/gigantes-plaki/

Gigantes Plaki (various recipes above). Lovely Greek summer dish; good on its own or as an accompaniment to barbecues etc

This! It's cheap and lovely and filling: agirlcalledjack.com/2013/03/20/gigantes-plaki-17p/

Add some bread and salad and you've got an excellent meal

If they are dry beans, the proper soaking and boiling bit is crucial or you will really suffer post-bean.

The white beans are nowhere as bad as the kidney beans though Dustbunny They really HAVE to be boiled

Soak and cook. Then make Greek giant baked beans. Bake the cooked beans with sauteed onion, garlic, loads of mint and olive oil, plus halved cherry tomatoes, until everything is all fragrant and oily and delicious. Serve with toasted pitta and tsatziki - one of my very favourite meals, but my evil dds refuse to eat it, so I don't get it very often!

I fry (tinned) butter beans up with garlic and artichoke hearts. Add a squeeze of lemon juice, mix up with salad leaves and grate a bit of Cheddar on top. Lovely. It's a slightly bastardised river cottage recipe

Remus That would be fab with slices of roast leg of lamb, though I know not for you!!

That giant beans recipe sounds fab!

AllAlone - my evil dds wouldn't eat the lamb either! :)

We just used to have them served as a vegetable accompaniment to a main meal, usually along with roast carrots and potatoes. Just boiled up and served as is.
Admittedly they're fairly bland served that way.

Butter beans, 2 tablespoons of olive oil, 2 tablespoons of honey, 2 tablespoons of lemon juice, 2 tablespoons of mustard.

Stir together, put in oven for about an hour. Serve warm as salad/with bread.

Any leftovers (unlikely) serve cold.

Delicious