Things to do with beans and pulses...

[AppyForts]

....that aren’t curry? Dinner and lunch ideas much needed!

I’ve got various chickpea and lentil curry recipes in my repertoire already. Also a lentil ‘shepherds pie’ and lentil ‘bolognese’.

Any other recipes you’d care to share?

Doing a no meat January to kick start healthy eating and save some money. But need my protein and there are only so many eggs one can eat

Many thanks!

Pulse tacos- this recipe is lovely

butterbean and sausage casserole.

mixed bean lasagne

red lentils onions and carrots with lots of cumin.

puy lentils cooked with onion herbs, and cherry tomatoes served with grilled haloumi and a squeeze of lemon.

Anna Jones' black bean tacos are lovely..
There is a good chickpea salad we do... cous cous, chickpeas, radish, dressing.
This is delicious www.ottolenghi.co.uk/spiced-chickpeas-fresh-vegetable-salad-shop
Lebanese mujadara for the lentils?

Slowly cooked beans in tomatoes with carrots celery and herbs with jacket potatoes.

this is nice for lunch

Chilli, soups, Greek style butter bean stew, bean burgers, bean dips, enchiladas, tacos, salads. They can also be used in baking! Black bean brownies are delicious.

Flageolet bean casserole - brown off some courgettes, add a jar of passata, a tin of flageolet beans and black olives. Top with grated cheese and serve with garlic bread.

Tana Ramsay's Black bean chilli is also one of our faves www.eatyourbooks.com/library/recipes/701704/black-bean-chilli-with-chunky

Sweet Potato falafels
Carrot Cumin and kidney bean burgers
Spicy butterbean, chickpea and BNS stew

I mash up kidney beans (from a can) in a frying pan along with softened onions, plenty of garlic, chipotle (or whatever spices I have to hand) and a splash of oil to make a quick and easy version of re-fried beans (not terribly authentic I know). Makes a really delicious base which you can put in a wrap or throw on top of nachos. If it is too dry add a tin of chopped tomatoes, also goes well with rice. I often add carrots, mushrooms and peppers etc to make it healthier.

Or squidge together chickpeas and/or kidney beans with some yummy seasoning (cumin/garam masala, garlic, lemon juice and coriander etc all work well), form into rough patty shapes and cook in an oven dish with a splash of olive oil for homemade bean burgers.

I do find that pulses and beans need a fair amount of seasoning to stop them tasting bland, but they are great at absorbing flavours and the above meals are so cheap and healthy to make.

^ Meant to say that home made bean burgers/falafel are very good in a sandwich/wrap for lunch, so worth making enough for leftovers!

I like pork (sorry!) and butter beans in cider. Put carrots, onion and a cooking apple in too. Maybe you could double up on the beans and just use a tiny bit of smoked bacon? Smoked paprika might help round it out too?

Rachel Roddy had four vegan bean recipes in the Guardian today

I forgot I posted this. Thanks so much everyone! Some great ideas x

I just saw this recently and want to try it, it looks decadent and satisfying www.davidlebovitz.com/giant-bean-gratin-cheese-pizza-recipe-smitten-kitchen/

I like Nigel Slater recipes-these are good especially the black eyed beans one. www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2009/jan/18/nigel-slater-bean-spicy-recipe

www.nigella.com/recipes/warm-spiced-cauliflower-and-chickpea-salad-with-pomegranate-seeds

This is really good and easy. I use less parsley and serve on some cous cous. Add sometimes add feta.

Or Nigella's vegetarian chilli (but with rice, not cornbread) is a staple that is well liked by my children. I even get away with serving it to other kids.

I do an aubergine and chickpea stew with pomegranate molasses.

Cook a can of chickpeas with spices with a tin of tomatoes for about 15 mins.Then mash. I must admit I've not tried it yet but it was in my Christmas cook boo

For mungbeans, just boil them with half-half combination of water and coconut milk. Throw in a couple of cinnamon sticks and cardamom. Sweeten to taste with sugar or if you're feeling fancy, maple syrup.

Ethiopian red lentil stew

Cuban black beans and rice

The Anna Jones recipe with lentils, tomato, breadcrumbs and the wonderful sauce made of cottage cheese and horseradish mixed up.

How about a pudding? Chinese sweet red bean soup is very nice cold. My SIL's tastes rich and cococonutty and sometimes it's got chewy rice cakes/mochi in. I think she does it with cubes of sweet potato too.