Beans

Chipotle-Garlic Edamame

March 6, 2012
Shannon
1 comment
appetizer, beans, chipotle, food, sides, vegetarian

The first time I ate edamame was about five years ago at a cute sushi place in the middle of Mandalay Bay Casino in Las Vegas. I’m not much of a sushi person so when my friends would pony up to the counter for what could easily become our only meal of the day, I typically would get a bowl of white sticky rice with soy sauce. After seeing how my friends would devour the edamame, I tried it. And now I think it’s just as addicting as potato chips yet so much better for you! If you’ve been reading my blog for a while, you know that I don’t mind my mouth being on fire after eating a meal on occasion. This Chipotle-Garlic Edamame is hot, spicy, and completely addictive. Normally I eat edamame with a little sea salt or soy sauce so this addition of chipotle and garlic is wonderfully different. Minced chipotle peppers and garlic are cooked in a little olive oil with cumin, giving the oil an immensely smoky flavor which coats the edamame. Be prepared to lick your fingers with these and keep a drink of something cold nearby!

The ingredients:

Prepare the edamame according to package directions (either in the microwave or in boiling water). Meanwhile, heat the olive oil in a large pan with the minced chipotle pepper, garlic and ground cumin.

Add cooked edamame to the pan and cook until the garlic has softened and the pods are coated.

Sprinkle with sea salt and black pepper before serving.

Additions: None

Omissions: None

Substitutions: None

Overall Rating: Love It

Source: Food and Wine Magazine

Spicy Black Beans

Black beans are by far my favorite bean even though I swear the only beans I ate as a kid were baked beans and the occasional kidney bean in chili. When I was a vegetarian, I experimented with all kinds of beans and found myself using black beans in place of meat in plenty of recipes. The great thing about black beans is that they are low in fat and full of fiber so a little bit of them will go a long way in keeping you fuller longer.

I’ve been on a pretty strict diet for the past month and black beans, which are considered a good carbohydrate, make for a great snack when you are watching your weight. Even thought I love black beans, I don’t really like the idea of just eating them by the spoonful. So, I found this recipe for Spicy Black Beans, an easy black bean salad/side dish with simple flavors like jalapeño, red pepper, cilantro and lime. Don’t let the “spicy” in the title scare you – the jalapeño is mild without giving it too much of a kick. For another flavor burst or extra heat, consider adding in spices like cumin or cayenne pepper with the black beans. This dish can be eaten warm, room temperature, or cold and makes for a nice side to any meat entree or as a light meal in itself.

The ingredients:

Heat the canola oil in a large pan over medium-high heat. Add the red pepper and jalapeño and cook for 4 minutes until softened.

Add in the lime juice, salt and black beans and cook for 3 minutes until the beans are warmed through.

Top with fresh cilantro before serving.

Additions: None

Omissions: None

Substitutions: None

Overall Rating: Love It

Source: Cooking Light Magazine

Tuscan White Bean Soup with Kale

I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again: Soups are great for healthy eating! When I’m trying to eat better, I love making them because as soon as the soup is prepared, I portion out the sizes into individual containers to make it easy to grab for lunch (and to not overeat!). This Tuscan White Bean Soup with Kale is rich in fiber but low in calories and fat. Not to mention it’s vegetarian! Creamy, sweet Great Northern Beans are simmered with onion, garlic, rosemary and thyme in vegetable broth (any kind of broth will work here) and then carrots and kale are added until soft. Red pepper flakes and white wine vinegar are tossed in at the end where both lend a real flavor boost. The original recipe calls for escarole but since I started eating kale a few months ago, I always try to use it wherever I can. Any leafy green – spinach, collard greens, or swiss chard – will work, so use whatever you like. The only thing I left out is the addition of the parmesan rind and although I’m sure it adds a ton of flavor, I didn’t see the need for the extra calories so I just used a little parmesan cheese on top before serving. I loved this soup more than I ever expected to and cannot rave about it enough. I will make this again, no question!