National nutrition month is just around the corner, and we can’t be more excited! Don’t worry, that doesn’t mean you have to only eat bland, boring, healthy food. In fact, this is a great month to experiment with new recipes that you can incorporate into your rotation of weekly dinner recipes!
While the options are endless, we guarantee that these recipes will never fail to provide great nutritional value, keep you full, and serve up that delicious Randall Beans flavor that you know and love!
Let’s Spill the Beans: Why They’re So Great For You
Protein-Loaded
Most legumes contain 17-25% protein, which is almost double the amount that you find in grains, and higher than that of most meat and eggs!
Heart-healthy
People who eat more legumes have a lower risk of heart disease, thanks in part to their high concentration of potassium and magnesium. Together, the two elements remove sodium and water from your cardiovascular system while regulating blood pressure.
Full of Fiber
The fiber in beans provides you with a sustained supply of energy, staves off hunger, and helps to maintain healthy body weight. Plus, it stabilizes the rise of blood sugar that occurs after eating, which can also help in stabilizing your mood.
Rich in Iron
Beans are a perfect substitute for meat thanks to their high concentration of iron. To put it in perspective, one cup of boiled black beans provides 29% of our daily recommended iron intake.
White Bean and Shaved Vegetable Salad
A quick and easy way to make the best of spring veggies is to shave them thin, then marinate them in a flavorful vinaigrette using fresh herbs like chives and dill.
In this recipe, our great northern beans add a creamy element with enough protein that you won’t even miss the meat or the dairy! (That’s right, this recipe is vegan-friendly!)
You can mix and match any of your favorite herbs and veggies to customize the dish for your family. The great northern beans will marry perfectly with any veggies you choose and absorb the flavors of your dressing.
Have you ever heard the phrase “eat the rainbow”? We picked out a variety of colorful veggies to make this a rainbow plate. Perfect for a picnic or el fresco dining, this shaved vegetable salad will look so good, you’ll have to snap a photo before digging in!
The Best Vegetarian Chili Recipes
Whether it’s chicken, beef, turkey, steak, or any other meat, there is no shortage of great chili recipes to pair with it. Of course, that puts our vegetarian friends in a tough position…until they take a look at these recipes!
The addition of a protein to accompany the beans in a chili opens up so many possibilities, many of which cannot be enjoyed by those who follow a vegetarian or vegan diet.
But just because someone doesn’t eat meat, doesn’t mean they should get left in the cold when it comes to chili! For non-meat eaters, there is actually an incredibly large world of vegetarian recipes out there that are just as exciting and delicious as any meat-based chili dish.
Randall Beans Cowboy Caviar
Cowboy Caviar. An old favorite of ours. It’s a simple bean salad that combines beans, fresh veggies, and light and zesty vinaigrette. With colorful, fresh ingredients and bright flavors, this mix is a great appetizer with chips and dip or as an easy, healthy salad that’s great for plan-ahead lunches.
Most cowboy caviar recipes call for black-eyed peas, but with the addition of our Ultimate 4-Bean Mix, this recipe receives an ultimate update! The perfect mix of great northern beans, black beans, kidney beans, and pinto beans gives each bite a unique flavor and texture.
Dressed in a simple cilantro and jalapeño vinaigrette, our cowboy caviar has a mild kick and sweetness without all the sugar of a traditional recipe. It’s the perfect dressing and salad mixture to pair with chicken, burgers, or pork from the grill at your next cookout or family gathering.
Don’t worry about doubling down on the portions either. This recipe is extremely versatile as leftovers! This bean mix goes great over lettuce or mixed greens as a topper for a regular salad or mixed into an omelet for a breakfast option.
