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Killer App: White Bean Dip

Susannah Chen — Fri, 20 Jan 2012 12:59:39 PST

I often like to make my own chickpea spread, but lately I've been leaning heavily on another plant-based purée: white bean dip. With little more than canned beans and lemon juice, it's almost easier than hummus; there's no mess of transferring tahini paste into the blender.

This recipe, courtesy of our friends Cara and Phoebe, is the right blend of rusticity, thanks to the rosemary, lemon, and garlic. Depending on my mood, I'll play around with it, switching up the herbs, taking out the garlic, or adding a dash of lemon zest into the mix. Serve the wholesome dip with flatbreads or carrot sticks for a healthy, meat-free snack. For a simple everyday appetizer recipe, keep reading.

3 BPA-Free Alternatives to Canned Beans

Jenny Sugar — Wed, 30 Nov 2011 10:48:48 PST

BPA (bisphenol A) is bad news. Animal studies of this chemical, which used to be found in many reusable plastic water bottles, links high levels of BPA to cancer, heart disease, and early puberty. BPA-free bottles have replaced reusable plastic water bottles and baby bottles, but BPA is also used in the lining of canned foods. A recent Harvard study found that after participants ate a serving of canned foods once a day, five days in a row, their levels of BPA rose 10 times.

As a vegetarian, I've been living on canned beans since they're so convenient. But now I feel they're unsafe to eat, especially for my 1-year-old. If canned beans are a staple in your diet, here are three BPA-free alternatives.

Go with Eden: This brand of organic canned beans specifically says on the label, "bisphenol A-free can lining." Don't assume that all "healthy brands" are BPA-free. I emailed Westbrae, and at this time, the linings of their cans do contain BPA.

Continue reading for two more BPA-free alternatives to canned beans.

A Reader Recipe: Bean Salad With Fresh Herbs

Fit Community — Fri, 24 Jun 2011 03:06:45 PDT

This bean salad will make the perfect side dish for your next Summer barbecue. FitSugar reader Dara8182 posted it in our Healthy Recipe group.

This tasty dish is a great healthy side for your next cookout. Filled with protein and fiber, simple beans, and some garden fresh herbs, the recipe is simple, delicious, and versatile. Add this salad to wraps, veggies, or pasta for a complete meal.

Learn more about the recipe after the break!

Versatile Black Beans Make Great Meatless Monday Meal

Katie Sweeney — Mon, 09 May 2011 14:49:19 PDT

Sometimes it's nice to prepare a big bowl of beans; then, you can use the beans over and over again to make different dishes throughout the week. Tonight I suggest you throw together a pot of these fragrant and flavorful black beans. The recipe calls for canned beans, so you don't have to worry about overnight-soaking or cooking for a long period of time. Serve the beans in a crispy taco shell, layered between two soft tortillas as quesadillas, or tossed with greens in a hearty salad. To get the fast and easy recipe, keep reading.

Weekend Cooking: Beer-Baked White Beans

Katie Sweeney — Fri, 15 Apr 2011 12:20:24 PDT

If you're a fan of slow-cooked baked beans, you'll love this easy recipe for white beans with bacon, beer, and rosemary. This dish requires time: the beans must be soaked overnight and then cooked in the oven for two hours, so plan ahead. The wait is worth it, though. The beans are rustic but elegant, and absolutely delicious. Entertaining? Serve with roast chicken and a green salad. To get the recipe, read more.

How to Shell and Prepare Fava Beans

Katie Sweeney — Mon, 11 Apr 2011 12:57:47 PDT

This Spring, I've decided to experiment with seasonal produce I've never cooked with before. Up first: fava beans. Favas are in season from now until July and once cooked, they have a beautiful vibrant color and tender delicious flavor. They're somewhat fussy to use because they must be shelled twice. Learn the proper technique with these step-by-step photos.

Take a Journey to the Big Easy With a Pot of Red Beans

Katie Sweeney — Fri, 04 Mar 2011 14:52:16 PST

Red beans and rice is a dish that is native to Louisiana. Traditionally it's enjoyed on Mondays because it's a one-pot meal that makes use of leftovers from Sunday's family dinner. The important thing to remember is that the beans must be soaked overnight, therefore a little planning is involved when making it.

It also requires time because the beans simmer with pork, vegetables, and aromatics for two hours. The resulting dish is hearty soul food that's filling and flavorful. Four different kinds of pork - bacon fat, ham, ham hocks, and smoked sausage - infuse the beans with an amazing richness.

To take a trip to the Bayou in your own kitchen, all you have to do is make these red beans and rice! Here's the recipe.

8 Fantastic and Filling Bean Recipes

FitSugar — Tue, 15 Feb 2011 04:00:02 PST

Don't let playground rhymes dissuade you, beans are quite magical. Little legumes make the list of top five foods for women because they are great sources of protein, and packed with magnesium, potassium, foliate, and fiber.

While beans can be difficult to digest, they're a healthy option vegetarians or anyone looking for a wholesome, filling, and nutritious staple. Choose hummus (it's made with garbanzo beans) over dip, and add beans to salads, burritos or soups to get your fill, or pair beans with rice or corn for a complete protein. And, if you're ready to soak up even more benefits of beans, try one of these eight filling recipes from the FitSugar team and members of our Healthy Recipe group.

What's Your Favorite Bean to Cook With?

Katie Sweeney — Thu, 06 Jan 2011 09:45:44 PST

Today is National Bean Day! Consuming legumes on a regular basis is one of the foundations of a healthy Mediterranean-style diet. Since my culinary resolution is to eat more vegetarian cuisine, I'm cooking lots of beans. My favorites are lentils, garbanzos, and black beans. If I stock my pantry with all three, I can make a wide variety of soups, salads, and sautes.

How about you? What is your preferred bean?

Make This: Kale Potato Bean Soup

Michele Bell — Mon, 15 Nov 2010 05:50:11 PST

The pumpkins are hardly in the compost and the Christmas decorations are already popping up in storefronts, which means old man Winter is on his way. Before the leaves are all on the ground, I'm bulking up on my warm and hearty soup recipes. One of my all-time favorites is Italian wedding soup, but sometimes I'm just not in the mood for the meatballs. When that's the case, I take comfort in this yummy kale potato bean soup that's a cinch to make and a crowd-pleaser to boot.

Chock full of tasty veggies, protein packed beans, and other fresh ingredients, this vegetarian soup is quite tasty and easily adaptable. I, for instance, like to add more beans and corn to the mix every so often. And on those rare moments where I do want a little meat in the pot, it's simple enough to add bits of grilled chicken or meatballs. So the next time you think about kindling the fire, consider firing up a bowl of the kale potato bean soup to go along with it!

If you want to see the recipe, just