Friday, June 8, 2012

Prepare White Beans







Learn prepare healthy and flavorful white beans.


White beans is a term used to describe specific varieties of beans that have light-colored skins. The most commonly used white beans in cooking are navy, cannellini and great northern beans. White beans are mild-tasting, and a good source of iron, folate, magnesium, phosphorus, potassium and copper. These beans are extremely versatile and can be added to soups, stews, casseroles, salads, stir-fries, combined with vegetables, turned into spreads or dips, and cooked in pasta. Learn properly prepare white beans and start enjoying them in your favorite recipes.


Instructions








1. Rinse 2 cups of white beans in a colander or large bowl in the sink. Continue to rinse the beans until the water runs clean. Pick out any dirt, small stones or other debris.


2. Place the white beans and 6-inch strip of kombu seaweed in a heavy pot. Add enough water to cover the beans by 3 inches. Soak the white beans in the pot overnight. Soaking the beans with kombu seaweed makes the beans more digestible and lessens the potential of adverse gaseous reactions.


3. Empty the soaking water from the pot and add enough fresh water to cover the beans by 3 inches. Include the 6-inch strip of kombu seaweed that soaked with the beans overnight. Turn on the stove to high heat. Turn the heat down to a simmer and cover the pot after the water comes to a full boil. Cook the white beans until they become tender, which takes approximately 1 1/2 to 2 hours.


4. Allow the beans to cool after cooking, and then refrigerate in a covered container. Cooked white beans will keep for up to four days in the refrigerator.

Tags: kombu seaweed, white beans, white beans, 6-inch strip, 6-inch strip kombu, beans inches