Food

Brilliant orange sweet potatoes blended with black beans and spices create a perfect warming dish for January. But this dish provides more than just eye appeal. It’s got a wealth of antioxidants to protect your body from chronic disease.

Roasting brings out the natural sweetness of squash in this vegetarian main course. Switch up the beans and herbs to transform this dish into something new. For instance, black beans with cilantro add Mexican flair, while white beans and basil make for an Italian-inspired roasted dinner.

Roasting technique

Creamy pinto beans and earthy black beans stand in for kidney beans and help make a hearty chili along with some smoky poblano peppers. A pinch of cacao in this chili enhances the slightly sweet flavour of lean bison. If you prefer a less spicy chili, feel free to reduce the amount of powder, or add it in stages.

Stirring cricket powder into an African stew is a natural, given that crickets were an African staple long before they became trendy in the West. Adding a couple of tablespoons to this delicious dish not only increases the protein content but also kicks up the nuttiness a notch.

Soaking time for beans

Arame is a dark brown Japanese sea veg sold as long, wiry strands that are rich in dietary fiber. Its mild flavor makes arame one of the most versatile seaweeds and a great addition to salads and soups, as it won’t overpower other ingredients. If you don’t have arame, rehydrated and chopped kombu or wakame can be used in this recipe. You can also use cranberry, kidney, cannellini or orca beans if you’re adzuki bean-less. Whichever ingredient combo you use, each spoonful of this nourishing minestrone is like a liquid hug.

They’ve bean everywhere

A delicious start to a day includes eating beans. Plant-based, naturally nutritious, and oodles of filling fibre—you’ll be satisfied all morning with this Mexican breakfast.

DIY cooked beans

• Soak overnight.
• Place in large saucepan with aromatics such as bay leaf, onion, garlic, and cumin.
• Cover with water at least 1 in (2.5 cm) above beans.
• Bring to a boil, cover, and simmer for 1 to 1 1/2 hours, or until as tender as you like. Drain.
• Season with salt after cooking.

The brilliant orange of sweet potatoes blended with black beans and Indian spices create a perfect warming dish for January. But its tremendous eye appeal provides more than just looks. The flavour and nutritional benefits contribute a wealth of antioxidants that will protect your body from chronic disease. Any bean’ll do  We used black beans for a visual punch, but any bean, lentil, or legume will make a great substitute. And if dried beans are your preference, soak overnight, drain, and cook in a large saucepan with enough water to cover by 3 in (8 cm). Then add to cooked potato.   

This vegetarian tray uses a handful of fresh ingredients and an economical pantry staple: white beans. Full of fibre and protein, this tray gets a touch of Moroccan zing when served with a garlicky, spiced yogurt perked up with orange.

Give veggies and dip a punch of protein with this savoury white bean dip. Roasted garlic gives this dip a mellow but rich flavour. The vegetables can be changed up according to the season, but don’t skip the beautiful Belgian endives. Their slightly bitter flavour makes an excellent contrast to the slightly sweet dip, and they work as a built-in scoop.

Next stop, Asia! This shrimp burger combines classic Asian flavours with unique toppings for rich umami flavour with the saltiness of the ocean. Whether served on a bun or over rice in a more traditional Asian-style meal, try some unique miso yogurt or wasabi mayo dressing for a fabulous flavour bomb.

A warming winter taco meal is everyone’s favourite. Our delicious hummus made from heart-healthy lima beans and spinach is an excellent way to fill up on healthy plant proteins. Lima beans help lower cholesterol and provide heathy fibre. Coupled with a medley of diced veggies, it becomes an über-healthy crowd pleaser!

Arame is a dark brown Japanese sea veg sold as long, wiry strands that are rich in dietary fibre. Its mild flavour makes arame one of the most versatile seaweeds and a great addition to salads and soups, as it won’t overpower other ingredients. Each spoonful of this nourishing guise of minestrone is sheer comfort.

Tips

• This soup will thicken upon resting, so stir in additional broth when simmering leftovers.
• Rehydrated and chopped kombu or wakame can be used in lieu of arame, and other bean choices include cranberry, kidney, cannellini, or orca.

This marriage of nutritional superstars is sure to bowl you over with fresh flavours, great textural contrasts, and visual appeal. Not just for the birds, millet has great corny flavour, and cooking it in cilantro water is a way to make it even better with extra herby taste. To make each bowl shine even brighter green, you can swap out black beans for edamame or lima beans. It can also become vegetarian by swapping out chicken for cubes of smoked tofu. Serve the bowls for lunch or dinner.

Pile It On

Here, cauliflower is roasted with a medley of spices to create depth of flavor and warmth. It pairs especially well with the black beans, but you could swap in chickpeas or cannellini beans instead if you want to change things up.

With its heart-healthy benefits, the Mediterranean diet has long been touted as a smart and enjoyable way to eat. A typical meal is primarily made from vegetables, pulses (such as beans), whole grains and either lean meat or fish with a liberal dose of olive oil. The cooking moves quickly in this dish so it’s best to prep all ingredients before starting.

Light in the backpack and easy to tote, these crispy chickpeas topping tossed greens are loaded with flavour and provide a delicious boost of energy.

DIY chickpeas from scratch

• Drain and rinse well.
• Place chickpeas in large saucepan and cover with several inches of water. Bring to a boil. Cover, leaving lid ajar, and simmer for 1 1/2 to 2 hours, or until chickpeas are as tender as you’d like.
• Season with salt only after cooking, as salt toughens beans during cooking.

The velvet texture of avocado is pure heaven when blended with complementary ingredients. Avocado is a good source of the antioxidant vitamin E, monounsaturated fats, and fibre. Make a batch of this mayo on the weekend to enjoy throughout the week.

Peaches and radishes introduce kids to the adage, “What grows together, goes together.” They can also learn about the different varieties of these foods. Kid-friendly kitchen jobs: Peeling peaches (if choosing to do so), stirring yogurt, mixing salsa, and building their own tacos. Kid-friendly food swaps: Substitute trout for black beans. It’s available at farmers’ markets across Canada and provides a sustainable choice for getting more omega-3s throughout the year. If your kids don’t like trout, use shrimp or chicken instead. Change your salsa with what’s in season at the farmers’ market. Grapes and cucumbers in fall or tomatoes and plums in late summer are just a couple of new ideas to try.

Adolescent girls and young women have an increased need for iron-rich foods. And enhancing vitamin C consumption is essential for optimal iron absorption. Our iron-rich pasta dish is a simple and tasty dish that scores on all levels. With the combination of tomatoes, clams, and parsley, it’s the perfect marriage for an iron-clad, vitamin C meal.

These burgers have an addictively crispy outside and are soft and chewy inside, with plenty of protein from cooked black beans. You can use commercial gluten-free panko or bread crumbs or make your own by grinding a few pieces of bread in a food processor. You can also replace panko with bought or homemade almond meal. To make it yourself, simply grind whole peeled almonds or almond slivers to a coarse powder. This makes a big batch of burgers, so freeze any ungrilled patties on plates or baking sheets so they don’t stick together and then transfer them to freezer-safe containers. To cook from frozen,  bake for 30 minutes at 375 F (190 C) then broil for a few minutes on each side to crisp exterior.

This cheerful yellow soup not only has plenty of eye appeal, but it’s also delicious served hot or cold, making it über versatile as well. As with all bell peppers, these yellow beauties are chock full of vitamin C—four times more than a medium orange.

Tip

If green is the colour of health, then this artfully prepared verdant salad is the fountain of youth. Vinegary peppers, ribbons of tender seasonal asparagus, crunchy greens, and a herby dressing for a creamy finish all team up to add layers of deliciousness. How to achieve creamy green goddess dressing minus the dairy? Look no further than avocado; when teamed up with punchy herbs, avocado creates a luscious dressing that will elevate salads of all stripes. You can also use it as a dip or strewn over taco fillings and grain bowls. For extra protein, you can include a sliced hard-boiled egg in the salad.

Tip

Elevate your summer dining experience with a healthy twist on a classic appetizer. This grilled cacio e pepe (“cheese and pepper” in Italian) Caesar salad lends its savoury and peppery flavours to this refreshing dish. Featuring white beans and toasted whole wheat bread crumbs, this salad is an innovative and nutritious dish that not only satisfies your taste buds but also provides a wealth of wholesome benefits.

Don’t be surprised if this dessert gets you a few extra smooches. While the chocolate mousse is delicious on its own, the extra flourishes make it truly special. Feel free to substitute any type of bean aquafaba if you don’t have a can of black beans on hand.

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