The KInd Life Community Forum
Use this space to share stories, exchange ideas, ask questions, and contribute to our growing community!
Learn to love beans?
Started
by Lesley Rivera
on November 1, 2012
Hi all, I am flirting with veganism so far. For the most part, I LOVE vegetables, so it's really easy for me to get creative with them...except beans. I can't stand 'em. When I eat them I practically have a gag reflex. I trained myself to like lentils by eating a small amount every day for 6 weeks (forget where I first read about that trick), and it actually worked pretty well. So now I want to do the same thing with other varieties of beans.
Does anyone have any great recipes for any type of beans that might help me learn to like them? Suggestions for a type of bean that might be easier to start adjusting to them? The texture of almost all beans is what gets me most of all. I'm hoping for something I can make on Sunday and portion out the rest of the week. I love Italian and Mexican flavors quite a bit, so I was thinking of searching for recipes with this base.
Any help is appreciated! I think if I learn to like beans a little more, or at least tolerate them, I'll have an easier time making the switch :)
I got burnt out on beans a while back so i know what u mean. With the exception of black beans. When u cook them there juice is a good kinda diff flavor. I cook them with cilantro lime rotel tomatoes. It's mexican flavors and left overs are better after the flavors kinda meld together. I hate lentils but i made a pot of them this week and forced myself to eat them. I'm not good at variety lol. I tend to get stuck on 1 thing tilll i get tired of it then i NEVER eat it again so i've been trying diff things. Also garbanzo beans (chickpeas) have a diff texture. If u don't like them cooked i soak them over night in warm water without cooking and they get not mushy but crunchy like a nut. Totaly diff texture and taste.
Here is a recipe for black bean quinoa burgers that is super easy and delicious! It makes eight, so I make them on the weekend and freeze them to eat during the week.
http://www.vegetariantimes.com/recipe/black-bean-quinoa-burgers/
Also, you could try roasting chickpeas in the oven. It makes them crispy and delicious and less "beany." I can't find my recipe for this one, but I'm sure there are lots out there if you google!
Thank you! I'll give all of those a try! I tried garbanzo beans several times, and the texture bugs me with basic cooking, so I'll definitely try both your suggestions to see if that helps. Alexia - for lentils, do you like balsamic vinegar and rosemary? The recipe I used to learn to like them was to cook green lentils according to the package but with rosemary added to the water (I used a spice bag because I don't like rosemary twigs in my food), then when they were done, drizzle them with olive oil, garlic powder, balsamic vinegar, salt, and pepper. It's also pretty good with a roma tomato diced in.
Thanks again!
As for the garbanzo beans (chick peas) perhaps start out with these by eating hummous and/or falafel. Both of these are made from chick peas, it might be a way to get you to love them for their taste.....maybe then you can go to some straight chick peas?? I can't get enough lima beans so hopefully you will find a way to like them, they are so good for you.
5 Comments