Unique White Bean Recipes

Traditional white bean recipes are comforting but you can do so much more with a jar of beans than the standard pot of beans and rice. Let’s be honest, Betty Crocker recipes aren’t exactly innovative so it’s exciting to see your favorite white beans used in new ways. Beans lend themselves to any kind of cuisine since they easily take on the flavor of the seasonings and spices you choose. These recipes use versatile white beans in radically different ways with tasty results you’ll really enjoy.

 Spicy White Bean Dip

Spice things up the next time you make bean dip when you blend white beans with Asian cooking staples soy sauce and sriracha sauce. Sriracha sauce is really trendy right now and you can find it flavoring everything from potato chips to chocolate. People like it because of its big hit of heat and complex flavor. Look for it the international aisle of your grocery store. Serve the dip with pita chips or crackers.

White Bean and Sage Patties

Eating healthy doesn’t mean boring anymore. Try these white bean and sage patties for dinner when you’re looking for a savory dish but want to keep things light. Mashed white beans make it hearty enough to eat for dinner when paired with a side like baked sweet potatoes.

White Beans with Calamari

Get a taste of the Greek Isles without leaving your kitchen. The Greeks use a lot of beans in their cooking and pair them with calamari in this recipe for a meal that is thicker than a soup but lighter than a stew. You can find cleaned and sliced calamari in the frozen food section of specialty grocery stores. Top with crumbled feta cheese and serve with a side salad for a filling meal.

What are your favorite ways to use white beans in recipes? Share them with us in the comments!

 

 

Hearty Vegetarian Bean Soup Base

Make delicious soups, dips and appetizers using this hearty vegetarian bean soup base. It’s easy to make ahead and freeze for later use.

Veggie Bean Base

Hearty Vegetarian Bean Soup Base

10 cloves of garlic, chopped
2 Vidallia or sweet onion, roughly chopped
3 shallots, roughly chopped
1 sweet potato, peeled and cooked
1 cup dried Porcini mushrooms, re-hydrated in warm water
1 cup sun dried tomatoes packed in olive oil
2 tbsp olive oil
1 48 oz jar of Randall Pinto Beans, drained and coarsely mashed

Combine all ingredients except the olive oil and Randall Pinto Beans in the bowl of a food processor. Pulse to until the mixture is evenly chopped. Transfer to a mixing bowl. Heat the olive oil in a stock pot over medium-high heat. Add the puree and cook 8-10 minutes stirring constantly. If the mixture starts sticking to the pot, add a small amount of water to loosen it. Cook until the moisture has evaporated, then remove from heat. Let cool and mix in the mashed Randall Pinto Beans. Freeze in pint containers to keep on hand for a quick boost of flavor to recipes.

Super Bowl Snack Recipes for a Crowd

Hosting a Super Bowl party can be a blast, even if your favorite team didn’t make it through the playoffs. You can make your party memorable by choosing a theme and asking guests to bring a dish inspired by one of the teams playing or the Super Bowl host city. You’ll get a variety of dishes and it’s a great way to try something new.

This year’s Super Bowl is especially interesting with San Francisco versus Baltimore. Not only are the opposing coaches brothers, the teams hail from opposite coasts. Look for menu items showcasing each city’s unique culture like Maryland-style crab cakes for Baltimore or a sourdough bread appetizer for San Francisco. Round out your menu with party staples like nachos and bean dip everyone will enjoy no matter who they root for.

Anytown, USA

 Buffalo Bean Dip

What’s a party without Buffalo dip? This one is made with Randall great northern white beans and your favorite Buffalo sauce. It will be the easiest dish to prepare on your menu. Blend all the ingredients in a food processor or blender and refrigerate until party time.

Slow Cooker Chicken Nachos

Nachos are getting superstar treatment this year from food magazines and recipe websites with features showcasing how to create the perfect nachos. These chicken nachos are made using your slow cooker and fully cooked pinto beans. They are simple to assemble and will be gone before half time. You might want to make a double batch!

Baltimore

Maryland Crab Cakes

Crab cakes are quintessential East Coast cuisine. Even better? You can make this version in advance and refrigerate them until game time. Ready-to-use crab meat is available at most grocery stores and the other ingredients are household staples. Fry the cakes in a skillet and serve with seasoned mayo.

Homemade Potato Chips

Everyone loves to snack on potato chips while watching football. To save money, make your own! These potato chips are sliced thin, boiled, then baked. You can create endless seasoning combinations, but our favorite to represent Baltimore is Old Bay Seasoning.

San Francisco

Avocado Crostini

This recipe pairs crusty San Francisco sourdough bread with California-grown avocados. Fresh parsley pesto made with anchovies adds another layer of flavor to the smooth avocado and tart sourdough. Serve this for an easy alternative to guacamole.

Green Goddess Dip

Green goddess dressing is a creamy salad dressing that was created at the San Francisco Palace Hotel in the 1920s. This dip is heartier than its sister the dressing, so serve it with sturdy pita chips. The bright green color comes from a medley of fresh herbs and avocado. Anchovies are blended in for a kick of saltiness.

Layered Skillet Bean Dip Recipe

Are you one to miss meals while you’re out finishing up holiday shopping or just spending time with family and friends? It’s so easy to do. Whether you just lose track of time or are just too busy to sit down and eat, missing meals can affect your mood and cause you to lose steam even though you’ve got so much to do.

Having quick and easy appetizer recipes on hand are a great way to grab a bite to eat and still accomplish everything on your to do list. This layered skillet bean recipe comes together in less than 20 minutes. Beans provide the creamy foundation to this dip and add healthy protein to give you the energy you need. Canned tomatoes and green chilies give it a kick of Southwestern flavor without being too spicy. By adding sour cream and cheese and then heating up it all up, this dip is warm, gooey and perfect to snack on between meals.

Layered Skillet Bean Dip

1 48 ounce jar Randall Mixed Beans, rinsed and drained
1 cup sour cream
1 10 ounce can diced tomatoes and green chilies
8 ounces shredded Monterrey Jack cheese

Spread the beans into an even layer in the bottom of a non-stick skillet. (If the skillet is not non-stick, spray a thin layer of cooking spray into the pan before adding the beans.) Using a spatula, spread the sour cream into a thin layer over the beans.

Top with the tomatoes and green chilies, distributing evenly over the sour cream layer. Sprinkle the cheese over the top, covering completely. Cover the skillet and turn to high for 2 minutes.

Reduce to low and cook for 12 to 15 minutes or until mixture is bubbly and cheese is melted. Serve with corn chips.

Unique Bean Recipes

When you think of beans, you probably think of classic recipes like chili and soup. But lately, we’re seeing beans pop up in more and more creative ways. Tired of the same boring pepperoni pizza? Substitute white beans for your red sauce for a nutty take on the classic pie. Want to lighten up classic Buffalo dip? Beans allow you to cut out the cream cheese without losing any of the creaminess. And for the truly adventurous, we even have white bean cupcakes. Do you dare to make these unique recipes featuring beans?

White Bean Italian Pizza

This pizza uses white beans instead of tomato sauce. The beans are pureed with spices and herbs then spread out over a pizza crust and topped with traditional pizza toppings.

Baked Bean and Tomato Cupcakes

Cupcakes with baked beans and tomatoes? Sounds odd until you give them a try. These cupcakes are light and moist even though they’re baked with healthy ingredients. The tomatoes taste more fruity than savory and no one will guess beans as the secret ingredient. Cinnamon gives them a homemade spice cake vibe.  This is definitely one for the foodie crowd.

White Bean Game Day Dip

Buffalo chicken dip makes an appearance at most parties. By substituting white beans for the cream cheese and chicken, you’ll lighten it up and still have a hearty dish. The signature Buffalo sauce is the star of the recipe. With so many varieties to choose from, you can make this as hot or as mild as you like.

What are your favorite unique recipes featuring beans?

Potluck Party Bean Dip Recipes

Potluck parties are the perfect time to gather with family and friends during the holidays. Everyone brings a dish to share. Potluck parties can be tricky when you factor in travel time with food. You want to bring something delicious to wow the cooks in the crowd, but your dish needs to travel well. The holidays are already so busy, no one wants to worry over what to bring! Bean recipes are perfect for quick and delicious entertaining dishes. These recipes are a snap to prepare giving you more time for more parties!

White Bean Spread with Garlic and Rosemary

White bean spread with garlic and rosemary delivers a big flavor from sauteed garlic and fresh herbs. Saute chopped garlic with earthy minced rosemary to create a base of flavor before being combined with white beans. You can make the dip as chunky or as smooth as you like based on your preference. Serve it with pita chips or rounds of crusty French bread. This white bean dip can be made in advance and stored in the refrigerator. Keep some on hand for surprise guests!

Pinto Bean Hummus

Hummus is traditionally made with chickpeas, however this version features meaty pinto beans. Lemon juice provides a brightness to the dip. Olive oil and garlic create a savory backbone while fresh parsley adds color.  A food processor cuts the preparation time so you have more time to spend celebrating with family and friends.  Serve with crackers and watch it disappear.

Artichoke, Spinach and White Bean Dip

Artichoke, spinach, and white bean dip are always a hit at parties. Blend the white beans with Italian cheese, mayonnaise and spices for a decadent base. Stir in artichokes and spinach for texture and color then bake. You can prepare this baked dip just before leaving for a party and by the time you arrive, it will be the perfect temperature to dig in!

Vegan Bean Spread Sandwich Recipes

Stuck in a sandwich-making rut? Try something different by adding bean spread to your next sandwich. Bean spread can act as a condiment on your favorite sandwich, replacing boring old mayonnaise and mustard while adding a shot of flavor and protein. Bean spread can also stand on its own in sandwiches as the main protein. This is especially great for vegan or vegetarian sandwiches, or for people just looking for something new for their lunchboxes.

Keep this collection of vegan bean spread recipes on hand and easily transform any sandwich into something special.

Puree of White Beans with Garlic and Herbs

The combination of tahini, basil and garlic gives this spread a strong, fresh flavor and aroma. Select sandwich ingredients that complement the bold flavor. Spread a thick smear of this spread on a fresh baguette and add juicy slices of heirloom tomatoes, crunchy cucumbers and shredded lettuce.

Bittman’s White Bean Dip on Turkish-Style Pita Bread

Infused with ginger, cinnamon and cardamom, this bean spread tastes great piled into pita bread all by itself, or add crunchy slices of Granny Smith apples for a sweet and savory vegetarian sensation. The spices in the dip give the white beans a sweet flavor without adding any sugar.

Pinto Bean Spread

Grilled cheese is a sandwich staple, but sometimes you get tired of American cheese on white bread. Try layering this onion-accented pinto bean spread onto your favorite flat bread. Top high with with pepper jack cheese (or vegan cheese substitute) and pop under the broiler for an ooey gooey flatbread sandwich. You might also try adding roasted vegetables for a heartier meal.

Sandwiches don’t need to be boring. These vegetarian and vegan bean spread recipes will soon become lunchbox favorites.

Delicious Bean Dip Recipes

Dip may be one of life’s most perfect foods. You can make it healthy by pairing it with fresh veggies, make it more substantial by slathering it on pita points or splurge a little on your diet with some good old fashioned chips. However you like to eat your dip, creamy, healthy beans are the perfect base for all kinds of dips. Here are some of our favorite bean dip recipes:

Julia Child’s Garlic, Herb and White Bean Dip

Julie Child was a master of French cuisine. If a recipe comes from one of her classic books, you know it’s going to be good. Her simple, classic dish is similar to hummus with the inclusion of tahini (a sesame seed paste common in Middle Eastern cooking), but white beans give a creamy texture and fresh parsley gives a pop of freshness. Try it with pita chips!

Corn and Pinto Bean Dip

If you’re looking for a more substantial dip, this corn and pinto bean dip is perfect for you. Pinto beans are lightly mashed and combined with corn kernels, jalapenos, green onions, black olives and spices, all bound together with cream cheese. It has a fun, rustic texture and a bold flavor you’ll love. Pair this Tex-Mex dip with tortilla chips or sturdy fresh veggies.

White Bean and Avocado Dip

Who doesn’t love a big bowl of guacamole? While avocado is healthy in small doses, it’s very high in fat. But when combined with great northern white beans, you’ll wind up with a dip that’s just as creamy as your favorite guac, but lower in fat. This version takes an Italian twist on the Mexican classic with fresh basil, lemon juice and shallots. The recipe calls for cannellini beans, but remember, you can always substitute great-tasting Randall Beans great northern white beans for cannellini!

What’s your favorite dip recipe?

White Bean Game Day Dip

Game Day DipToday’s the day for the big show down in Indianapolis.  Since we don’t want to put off any football fans that might be rooting for the less-than-loved-but talented other team we decided to make a neutral yet delicious bean dip.  Honoring our nations love of wings on this festive occasion, we’ve created a very delicious, healthy and easy White Bean Buffalo dip recipe.

One stalk of celery chopped, 2 Tbs chopped red onion, 1/4 cup your favorite Buffalo sauce and two cups Randall Great Northern Beans with some of the reserved liquid, puree all ingredients, and et voila you’ve got yourself  White Bean Game Day Dip!

 

Sandwich Bean Spread

Ingredients

  • 1 cup Randall Pinto Beans, drained and rinsed
  • 1 dry red pepper
  • 1 clove garlic, minced
  • 1 small onion, chopped
  • 4 cups water
  • 1/4 cup celery, chopped
  • 2 tablespoons taco sauce (or chili sauce)
  • 2 tablespoons ketchup
  • dash Worcestershire sauce
  • hot pepper sauce to taste (optional)
Instructions

Rinse and drain the Randall Beans. Place the Randall Beans, red pepper, garlic, and onion in the water and bring to a boil. Remove from heat, cover, and let sit for one hour. Then return to the stove and simmer until the beans are heated.

Drain off the excess moisture and place the cooked ingredients in a food processor or blender with the remaining ingredients. Blend just until smooth. Add hot pepper sauce or extra ketchup if desired.

Serve bean spread on whole wheat bread with alfalfa sprouts or lettuce and tomatoes.

Serves 8.