To prepare excellent recipes with beans it’s a good idea to choose the right type of bean: borlotti or cannellini? And what about the choice between fresh, dried or canned beans? Sometimes there is not enough time to peel fresh bean pods or you’ve forgotten to soak the dried ones. The quickest and most convenient choice then are the canned ones and you’re ready to go.
We’ve prepared a collection of some of our favorite recipes with beans: appetizers, soups, as well as first and second courses. Plus, below we explain how to best select the most common varieties in Italy and bring them into your kitchen with bags of taste.
Recipes with beans: canned or dried?
Are dry beans or canned beans better? It’s often the case that you don't have enough time to cook dried legumes which require a longer preparation and you opt for precooked ones. If you prepare recipes with canned beans, it's important to remove the excess water; canned beans may contain additives, salt or sugar, so it's a good idea to rinse them under running water before use too.
Recipes with borlotti beans
Borlotti beans are the most cultivated in our country and are particularly loved for their ability to absorb flavors. For this reason, borlotti beans are perfect for preparing soups, minestrone, but above all pasta and beans. Often beans are used to replace meat thanks to their protein content but, borlotti beans are also a perfect accompaniment to meat!
Recipes with cannellini beans
Thanks to cannellini beans intense flavor, they’re perfect in the simplest recipes, accompanied by delicate condiments, or combined with fish. Salads, soups, and minestrone are perfect!
Recipes with white beans
White beans are the most common in Southern Italy. They’re particularly suitable in salads, stews or combined with tomato.
Choose your favorite bean recipe from the gallery above: from super tasty bean first courses to soups and main courses with meat or fish!