Struggling to find vegan main courses more interesting than yet another salad or pasta? Beans are a fantastic go-to source for any vegan meal. With their protein, fiber and mild flavor, they can pair with nearly any flavor to create an out-of-this world dish. Here are some of our favorite meal-worthy vegan bean recipes:
Zucchini Rolls with Herbed Beans
This Italian-inspired dish is a playful take on involtini. Instead of having meat wrapped around a cheesy filling, this uses thick slices of broiled zucchini around a creamy filling of mashed white beans. Roasted pine nuts provide a pleasant bitterness, while a squeeze of lemon juice gives a bright and acidic kick. The biggest surprise, however, are sweet and chewy raisins. They burst in your mouth as you eat and add texture you can sink your teeth into. If zucchini isn’t your thing, try this recipe with eggplant, too.
Roasted Corn and Bean Grilled Cashew Cheese Sandwiches
While the name might be a mouthful, these cute mini-sandwiches aren’t. It starts with petite baguette loads and layers on a sweet and smokey roasted corn and white bean spread. Smoked paprika and a dash of liquid smoke give great depth to the sandwich and an almost grilled flavor. Next comes the ancho chili cashew cheese, which is really more of a cashew butter with some healthy, nutty nutritional yeast and a hint of salty miso paste. Top with a few crumbles of vegan cheese to get that gooey grilled cheese texture and a few firm slices of roma tomato. This would be killer served alongside a bowl of tomato soup!
Gluten Free Quinoa and White Bean Fritters
You can’t go wrong with quinoa and white beans when you need a protein fix, and you can’t go wrong with fritters when you need a crunchy, comforting bite. A hint of curry powder adds warmth and the slightest heat to the fritters. The recipe calls for serving these with ranch dressing–grab a package of dressing and add it to vegan mayo and yogurt for the same creamy texture. Try serving this one up po’boy style on a roll.
What’s your favorite vegan dinner option?
This white bean recipe can be made with either Randall Beans Great Northern Beans or the Randall Beans Organic products.
