Questions about dried beans

Gold Member Joined: Jan 27 2010 Posts: 1440

I am making an effort to use dried beans instead of canned. I am trying to get the hang of cooking them in the crockpot. I tried Blackbeans last night and while we all liked it as a soup, it was not what I was trying to make. I used half a pound of beans and three cups of broth.

I would really appreciate any suggestions on how to make yummy beans that don't always taste like soup.

Senior Member Joined: Mar 18 2012 Posts: 126

I made refried beans yesterday for lunch and it was really delicious (and not at all soup-like). I'm giving the recipe for 1 lb of dried beans, which I guess makes about 6-8 servings?

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1 lb dried red beans or black beans, soaked overnight
1 large onion, diced
3-4 cloves garlic, minced or crushed
1 1/2 cups chopped tomatoes
diced jalapeno, to taste, if desired
salt

Simmer beans (in enough water to cover by about an inch) for 1.5 hours

In a large frying pan, saute onions, then garlic and hot pepper (if desired) in olive oil till soft. Add tomatoes and cook for a few minutes. Add beans and about a cup of their cooking liquid. Simmer on medium heat (should be bubbling rapidly) for about 20 minutes-- add more cooking liquid if it gets really dry too soon, but the liquid should eventually mostly cook off. While simmering, mash the beans periodically with the back of a slotted spoon or a potato masher.

I also made tortillas and it's nice with diced cabbage, tomatoes, rice.

Senior Member Joined: Mar 18 2012 Posts: 126

Ah, I realize you might only be asking for crockpot recipes, which this obviously isn't!

Posted: Wed, Jul 11 2012, 7:50 pm Post subject: re: Questions about dried beans

http://www.5dollardinners.com/2009/07/black-beans-and-rice.html

I made this with brown basmatti rice

Gold Member Joined: Jan 27 2010 Posts: 1440

Canned beans are one of my convenience foods. A few cans of beans can make fast dinners the days I work so I thought the slow cooker would be a similar tool.

Gold Member Joined: Nov 07 2005 Posts: 1106

I soak the beans overnight. Then drain and rinse. I don't use my crockpot to cook them though -- I use my pressure cooker. If you soak the bean you can cook them with minimal water and then it won't be soupy -- this applies to both the crockpot and pressure cooker.

put the soaked beans in the crockpot with a just enough water to have them submerged.

Platinum Member Joined: Oct 14 2009 Posts: 5894

Gold Member Joined: Jan 27 2010 Posts: 1440

Tacos
Choc Moose's pasta with white beans
Chickpea curry
quinoa salad with blackbeans that is posted here
I have made stuffed peppers with quinoa corn and blackbeans
The Tuscan bean soup in KBD

Gold Member Joined: Jan 27 2010 Posts: 1440

Yay I finally succeeded. I made non soupy chickpeas this week. I covered them with water just to the top and no more. I set the crockpot on a timer for 8 hrs on low. When I came home the water was mostly gone and I made yummy curry.