Improving taste of beans. (chicken, celery, lentils, carrots)

[Magic Qwan]

I started trying to make beans a staple of my diet to lose weight and save money (as opposed to eating fast food every meal), and while I've found that dried beans have a better texture than canned beans, I'm still not enjoying the bean flavor, whether dried or canned. To me, beans taste like dirt, even if I've washed them. Am I overcooking them in the crockpot, or undercooking them? Am I supposed to cook them with something?

[Formerly Known As Twenty]

Originally Posted by Magic Qwan

I started trying to make beans a staple of my diet to lose weight and save money (as opposed to eating fast food every meal), and while I've found that dried beans have a better texture than canned beans, I'm still not enjoying the bean flavor, whether dried or canned. To me, beans taste like dirt, even if I've washed them. Am I overcooking them in the crockpot, or undercooking them? Am I supposed to cook them with something?

Are you just eating them plain or using them as part of various recipes?

If I'm just cooking them plain, I cook them with a bouquet garni (bay leaf, peppercorns, thyme, parsley) tied into a bag or, barring that, just a bay leaf with some onion and/or carrots, and celery; adding the salt towards the end of cooking. Once the beans have been cooked, they can be used in a variety of recipes. Soup, part of a filling for tortillas, to go with rice and a variety of vegetables, in stews, chili, etc.

[harry chickpea]

What kind of beans? I add nutmeg and onion and garlic powder to black beans, with a dash of chicken bullion. Pinto beans used for chili get chili and onion added at a minimum. Navy and white beans work with a little brown sugar and tomato sauce. Red beans want heat and rice, but you knew that.

[1insider]

Fresh herbs will make a big difference. Dried spices if you don't have fresh. I like a little liquid smoke in my black beans.

[don6170]

Originally Posted by harry chickpea

What kind of beans? I add nutmeg and onion and garlic powder to black beans, with a dash of chicken bullion. Pinto beans used for chili get chili and onion added at a minimum. Navy and white beans work with a little brown sugar and tomato sauce. Red beans want heat and rice, but you knew that.

I like Frank's hot sauce on pintos, limas and a few other beans.

[Lodestar]

I also add a spritz of liquid smoke to my baked beans recipe.

Simmer black beans with onion, green pepper, a dash of vinegar and cayenne and serve over rice.

[DubbleT]

Depending on the type of bean you can add some flavor by adding just a little bit of salt pork, hambone, or bacon grease to your cooking beans.

[weezycom]

Add a squirt of lemon or lime juice once they finish cooking as well.

[evening sun]

Start off with onions, garlic, celery & carrots, fry those for a few minutes before you add the soaked beans. Add hot water & plenty of bay leaves. If you have some ham bouillon use that too. It is good to have in the kitchen, a jar or a box will last a long time. If you don't have ham bouillon, use chicken. I buy the flavored chicken ones. Dollar stores or ethnic stores often have a good selection of different flavor bouillon cubes. Try them. That is my basic soup or bean stew mix.

From that base you can play with flavors. I like to add some chili powder & a good dash of cumin, along with peppers & chayote squash for a Mexican feel, add plain yogurt to the top if it's too hot.
Play around with the herbs you like, & you will come up with your new favorite bean dish!!
I also like curried lentils. Start off in the same way, with the veg, they really add flavor. And no need to soak the lentils, they cook & soften really fast. Then add your curry paste or curry powder.
Start off adding small amounts of your seasonings, & then add more if you think it needs it, after you taste. Taste & add.

[fresnochili]

If I make pinto beans from scratch, I 'll add some butter, and some shredded cheddar cheese on top when done.

I do that separately in my bowl. And add some salt to taste.