All of these quick and easy vegetarian meals are made with some simple white beans. They are some of my favorite simple white bean recipes I have used over the years. You can cook the white beans all in a pot on a Sunday, and then use them throughout the week to create these simple and quick vegetarian meals. For the most part you should find that each bean recipe uses simple ingredients you might already have around the house. Don’t forget, if you get in bind you can always use some canned white beans. Just be sure to cut down on the amount of salt you add.
How to Cook Your White Beans:
Separate 2 garlic heads into cloves (do not peel). Pick over beans and in a 4-quart kettle combine with garlic and enough cold water to cover beans by 2 inches. Gently simmer bean mixture, adding more water as necessary to keep beans covered, until beans are tender, about 1 1/2 hours.
Drain bean mixture in a colander. Remove garlic and peel. In a small bowl mash garlic with a fork and gently stir into beans.
Preheat oven to 400 degrees. In a 2-quart baking dish gently stir together bean mixture, broth, and salt and pepper. Blend together breadcrumbs and butter. Sprinkle crumb mixture evenly over bean mixture and bake in middle of oven until golden and bubbly, about 20 minutes
This dish is a great replacement meal for traditional macaroni and cheese. It is full of protein as well.
Quick and Easy Vegetarian White Bean Soup Recipe
3 – 4 cups cooked white beans
8 cups water
4 slices bacon, coarsely chopped (optional)
2 large onions, diced
2 carrots, peeled and diced
2 garlic cloves, minced
1 teaspoon coarse salt
1 large tomato, diced
2 bay leaves
2 canned chipotle chiles
6 cups vegetable stock
1 lime, halved
1/2 cup Madeira wine
In a large saucepan, saute 2 slices of the bacon over medium heat until cooked. Now, Remove bacon, you need to save the grease in pan. If you do not want to use bacon, then use 2 – 4 tablespoon of vegetable oil for the grease. Now, Add 1/2 of the diced onions and all of the carrots and cook over medium low heat until onions are lightly browned, about 15 minutes. Then add 1/2 of the garlic and 1/2 teaspoon of the salt, stirring continually for about 12 minutes. Stir in the white beans and their liquid, along with the tomato, 1 bay leaf and 1 chipotle chile. Pour in 3 cups of the vegetable stock. Turn up the heat and bring to a boil. Reduce to a simmer and cook, uncovered, stirring occasionally, an additional 30 minutes.
Remove bay leaves. Squeeze half of a lime into it and 1/4 cup of Madeira into saucepan and stir to blend. You can Adjust seasonings to taste.
Quick and Easy Crostini with White Beans Vegetarian Recipe
2 cups white beans, drained (or 2 cans)
2 cloves garlic, chopped or 2 teaspoons pre-minced garlic
1 teaspoon ground cumin
Salt and pepper
1/4 cup chopped fresh basil leaves
16 melba toast squares or rounds
In a large glass bowl you need to mash white beans with the back of a fork or a potato masher until partially pureed. You could also use your mixer to match them with the paddle attachment. Add the garlic and cumin and mix well. Season, to taste, with salt and black pepper. Serve white bean puree on melba toast, garnish with basil.
