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[QUESTION] What are your favorite spices to use in soups?

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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?

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[–] SaneMartigan@aussie.zone 3 points 2 hours ago

Instantpot. I eat pulces every day mostly as a variety of curries.

[–] Madzielle@lemmy.dbzer0.com 2 points 2 hours ago

Spicy beanssssssss

[–] Bytemeister@lemmy.world 3 points 4 hours ago* (last edited 4 hours ago)

Red beans and rice.

Slice up about a pound of kielbasa or andoullie sausage, brown it with some vegetable oil in a large pot, then lift out the sausage and set it aside. Add in your trinity (diced onion, celery, green bell pepper) and saute it for about 10 minutes. Add minced garlic to your preference (I usually do 1 clove) a tablespoon of tomato paste, probably 2-4 tablespoons of Cajun seasoning, and stir it for like 5 more minutes until everything is coated and gloopy. Add your sausage back in and 3 cans of red beans (maybe 24oz?) drained and rinsed. Add enough beef stock to just barely cover everything, and grind black pepper into the mix until your hand cramps up. Then add a lot of Louisiana Hot sauce. You can use Frank's Red hot in a pinch. If you use Tabasco I will jump through this phone and slap you. Let this concoction simmer on low heat, covered, for about 20 minutes to cook the beans, then uncover and let it condense until you get the texture you want. Helps to smash about half of the beans with a spatula to thicken the mix. Serve over rice with diced green onions, cheese, sour cream, or whatever. Re-heats well and will stay good in a container in the fridge for a week.

[–] swelter_spark@reddthat.com 2 points 4 hours ago

I like to add small beans to mac & cheese. I started doing this recently, and it's surprisingly good.

[–] AngryCommieKender@lemmy.world 3 points 5 hours ago* (last edited 5 hours ago)
[–] ArsonButCute@lemmy.dbzer0.com 2 points 4 hours ago* (last edited 3 hours ago) (1 children)

I've never successfully reconstituted beans, its the one thing I've tried I can't cook. I think my water is too hard, I'll simmer them at low temp for literally days in the crock pot and they don't get soft. I've read Guides, I've seen videos, the beaniverse just said fuck this girl in particular.

I get the canned mixed kidney beans and make chili with them. Back before I went vegetarian I'd cook them with some cross-cut ribs and marrow. Nowadays I use minced mushrooms and seitan

[–] Zombiepirate@lemmy.world 3 points 4 hours ago* (last edited 4 hours ago) (1 children)

I've read that cooking them with baking soda added can help shorten the cook time. Might be worth an experiment?

Although beans are one of the best canned foods anyway.

[–] ArsonButCute@lemmy.dbzer0.com 4 points 4 hours ago (1 children)

I'm never touching a dry bean again, lentils are where its at nowadays.

I'll keep the baking soda in mind if I ever make another attempt

[–] zabadoh@ani.social 4 points 4 hours ago

Bean freshness matters.

If your regular supermarket's beans don't get tender in a reasonable amount of time, they may have been sitting around for a long time and are really, really dried out.

Try another source.

Also, yay for lentils and split peas!

[–] whyrat@lemmy.world 4 points 5 hours ago

Black eyed peas I love "Texas Caviar" style. There's a few variations, but basically saute peppers & onions plus whatever other aromatics you like (celery, carrots, garlic, etc...). Add beans, southwest-type spices, some oil and water / stock. Bake until tender.

One example: https://www.thepioneerwoman.com/food-cooking/recipes/a10902/hoppin-john/

[–] OneOverZero@sh.itjust.works 3 points 5 hours ago

I vote chilli as well. Just made a batch with ground turkey a couple days ago. Cheap, relatively nutritious, and tastes pretty good imo.

[–] swelter_spark@reddthat.com 1 points 3 hours ago

I like to add small beans to mac & cheese. I started doing this recently, and it's surprisingly good.

[–] PNW_Doug@lemmy.world 5 points 7 hours ago

Hummus! Five ingredients, five minutes, a full batch. All you need is a food processor and you're good to go.

• Garbanzo beans

• Garlic

• Salt

• Tahini

• Lemon juice.

I usually throw in some cumin for a minor twist on basic hummus.

[–] Drusas@fedia.io 4 points 11 hours ago

I make Cuban style black beans (but I increase the amount of basically every seasoning) and use the leftovers to make enchiladas. I don't know why black bean enchiladas aren't a thing because they're delicious.

[–] zabadoh@ani.social 3 points 12 hours ago

Navy Bean Soup. Here's the (US) Senate Bean Soup recipe https://www.senate.gov/about/traditions-symbols/senate-bean-soup.htm

Italian Wedding Bean Soup. Various recipes, but generally beans, pasta, veggies, meat

Legumes aren't just limited to beans...

Split Pea Soup. Split peas, onions, carrots, celery, ham hocks.

A can of baked beans is a tasty treat with eggs for breakfast.

[–] FauxPseudo@lemmy.world 6 points 15 hours ago* (last edited 15 hours ago) (1 children)

Chili and refried. And by refried I don't mean as a side dish but as the meal. Top it with whatever you have on hand and a a side of chips as a delivery system.

I'm always adding a teaspoon of homemade chili powder and another teaspoon or two of ground cumin to a large can of refried beans to add a lot of depth of flavor.

[–] Zombiepirate@lemmy.world 1 points 4 hours ago

Refried with everything tasty added in is also one of my favorites. With chips or on tacos, both are fantastic.

My family did tacos last Christmas, where everyone brings an ingredient and we just set up a bar so that people plates their own and gets what they want. For lunch the next day I combined everything that fit into a big bowl and served with chips. It was mostly refried beans by volume, but also rice, meat, cheese, veggies, and more. It's a delicious meal that everyone likes.

[–] Mouselemming@sh.itjust.works 3 points 13 hours ago

Doesn't count as cooking: A can each drained of garbanzo, kidney, navy, and green, a handful of frozen peas, maybe some celery or cherry tomatoes, make a nice lemon vinaigrette to soak them in, and serve on baby spinach leaves

[–] czardestructo@lemmy.world 9 points 17 hours ago

Something I do which I've come to find is unusual is a Mexican-ish side dish. Soak and cook black beans. Then cook some onions in another pot, when soft add some cumin seeds and bloom then, deglaze with tequila, add the black beans and orange juice. Smash some of the beans to make it thicker. Cover and simmer for an hour. Its a magnificent side.

[–] bluGill@fedia.io 5 points 16 hours ago (1 children)

Curried refrieed. I normally 'cheat' with cans. Adjust for what you have.

a bit of oil/butter, cook a couple garlic cloves. Then throw some whole mustard seed in until they start to pop, some toast some whole cumin, then corriander until it snells good. I didn't use termeric last tine but that goes well too. Then add pinto beans, until warm and snash.

lentils do well too.

note that I didn't give amounts. I have done this so often that I can follow the dump the right anount in plan.

[–] whyrat@lemmy.world 4 points 5 hours ago (1 children)

Basically an Indian Dal, but with whatever beans you want instead of just lentils?

[–] bluGill@fedia.io 4 points 5 hours ago

I combined Mexican and Indian traditions there in ways that I doubt either would be willing to claim as their own. Which makes this an American dish I guess. Whatever, it is good and you should try it.

[–] YiddishMcSquidish@lemmy.today 5 points 16 hours ago

I'm totally making chili tomorrow after reading this.

And I'm a big fan of hummus or falafel. Garbanzo bean ftw!

[–] SlightlyNormal@lemmy.world 6 points 17 hours ago* (last edited 17 hours ago) (2 children)

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.

[–] YiddishMcSquidish@lemmy.today 3 points 16 hours ago (1 children)

Your lack of garlic disturbs me.

[–] SlightlyNormal@lemmy.world 2 points 6 hours ago

The can of tomatoes has chunks of garlic. We were out of garlic when we made it, but turned out fine.

I'm a garlic fiend too, don't get me wrong.

[–] Zombiepirate@lemmy.world 4 points 17 hours ago

All those mushrooms sound delicious. I'll have to give this a try.

[–] the_q@lemmy.zip 5 points 18 hours ago

Honestly I really like just having them warmed out of a can with some rice.

[–] tomselleck@sopuli.xyz 5 points 18 hours ago (1 children)

I love pinto beans. Throw them in an instant pot with a large onion, 4 cloves of garlic, and a jalapeno or two. Set it to cook for 45 minutes and let it release pressure naturally. Salt to taste. They make a great side and you can then make refried beans, if you like.

[–] Thwompthwomp@lemmy.world 2 points 17 hours ago

That’s basically how I make my pot of black beans. I just add in some epazote if I have it and cumin. The main trick I’ve been using lately is 1 lb beans to 7 cu water, and then after the pressure cook, I quick release and set it to simmer (sauté setting) for 5 minutes to cook down a bit. I add in olive oil and the salt at the end (after the release, before the simmer).

[–] fubarx@lemmy.world 2 points 14 hours ago

Not sure if this relates to other beans. But with dried red kidney beans. Soak in water for an hour. When used in a stew, cook in a pressure cooker for more than an hour (depending on quantity). They come out soft, with good flavor.

Other option is to use in slow-cooker, alongside vegetable broth, for 8+ hours.

[–] NerdInSuspenders@leminal.space 2 points 15 hours ago* (last edited 15 hours ago)

Gotta go bean-hole!

[–] mushroommunk@lemmy.today 4 points 18 hours ago

I love cooking garbanzo beans in bbq sauce for like ten or twenty minutes, then tossing them in a wrap with some coleslaw and lettuce. So easy and good

[–] nocturne@piefed.social 3 points 18 hours ago (1 children)

My top 3 are, in no particular order; pintos with pinto seasoning (red chile powder, onion, garlic, black pepper, and oregano), pasta y fagoli (white beans and pasta soup), and Cajun red beans and rice.

[–] Zombiepirate@lemmy.world 3 points 18 hours ago

Red beans and rice is tied for my top spot as well. So good!

[–] Lushed_Lungfish@lemmy.ca 2 points 17 hours ago (1 children)

Pretty basic pork and beans for me. I've been a fan since Dr. McCoy served em up in Star Trek V.

Gotta be liberal with the secret ingredient.

[–] FauxPseudo@lemmy.world 3 points 15 hours ago

Bourbon and beans. An explosive combination.

[–] Cruxifux@feddit.nl 2 points 17 hours ago

Honestly just straight up beans on soda crackers or toast with butter. Sometimes I’ll add cheese slices or cottage cheese but that’s not the main event here.

[–] Zachariah@lemmy.world 2 points 17 hours ago

in an orb while wearing jeans, lately with a bit of corn

[–] Sarcasmo@piefed.social 2 points 18 hours ago

I think to make delicious beans you have to take your time. So saucepan over microwave.