Beans are a staple at my house. They’re cheap, healthy, and my kids love them.

I think my favorite way to eat them is in chili. Soak small red or black beans (or ideally half a pound of each) for a few hours.

Trim 1.5 pounds stew beef, add black pepper and salt. Brown in pan. Add in onion and fresh peppers (bell, poblano, jalapeno, serrano) and cook until onions are clear.

Pour a beer in there, Modelo works great. Add the beans. Add a can of chipotles in adobo sauce. Don’t bother chopping, they’ll break down. Add a jar of salsa. Add water to cover the beans. Add chili powder, bay leaves, oregano, cumin, and more salt & pepper to taste.

Simmer until the beans are fully cooked, probably around a couple hours. Serve with tortilla chips or corn bread.

And before anyone says “beans don’t belong in chili,” they absolutely do.

I’m always on the lookout for more ways to cook beans. What’s your favorite?

  • SlightlyNormal@lemmy.world
    6·
    8 days ago

    I’ve been on a bean kick since I found bags of 15 bean soup mix for less than $3. The creamy large Lima beans are my fave. I toss the ham flavor in the trash and make a batch with whatever I have on hand. The following batch was my favorite so far:

    • 20 oz 15 bean soup - soaked overnight
    • Two small white onions - diced and browned with a pinch of salt and sesame oil
    • Eighth red cabbage chopped and browned in a skillet
    • 2 celery stalks diced
    • 6oz crimini mushrooms coarsely diced and browned - finely dice stems
    • 6oz white button mushrooms coarsely diced and browned
    • 1/4 cup textured veggie protein
    • 1 heaping tbsp chili powder
    • 1 can fire roasted diced tomatoes with garlic
    • 1 tsp salt
    • 2 tsp potassium salt
    • 1 tbsp MSG
    • Half tsp cracked black pepper
    • Half tsp garlic powder
    • Half tsp paprika

    The biggest thing to remember is to make sure that you get the rehydrated beans in a good boil for at least 10 minutes to denature the toxic proteins, otherwise you’ll have an upset stomach.