• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer
  • Recipe Search
  • Produce Guides
  • Stock a Pantry
  • Component Cooking
  • Search

Naturally. logo

Home > Stock a Pantry > Legumes > White Beans

White Beans

Seasonality

Fall/Winter

Quick Tips

How to cook white beans

My preferred method is to soak (if I have time), combine with a mirepoix and garlic, boil for 10 minutes, then cook until tender (anywhere from 1 to 4 hours). This technique came from Rancho Gordo.
If you’re looking for other methods of bean cooking, this article has quite a few examples.

How to buy beans

Buy beans out of bulk bins you know have quick turnover or from companies that go through inventory at a quick pace. Two of my favorites: Bob’s Red Mill and Rancho Gordo.

How to store beans

Store dried beans in an airtight container, away from light. I prefer to keep my beans in glass jars, kept in my pantry cupboard. While beans can last for some time, I try to make sure I don’t have any beans older than a year in my pantry.

How to freeze beans

While I cook a pot of beans or two weekly, I also like to freeze white beans in their liquid for an emergency stash of beans. Cook the beans as normal, stir in about a teaspoon of 1 ½ apple cider vinegar/pound of beans (a trick I picked up from the Kitchn), and divide into freezer-safe containers. Let cool before sealing.

Varieties

Cannellini
Navy
Great Northern

About

I love white beans for their versatility as they can work in place of almost any type of bean, in any type of dish. I first realized this when my uncle made hummus from white beans instead of chickpeas. The result was tan amazingly creamy hummus that didn’t have quite the earthy flavor chickpeas come with.

I’ve become a bit picky on which type of white bean depending on the dish. For a recipe where the beans should blend and become apart of the overall texture, I prefer smaller navy beans. For dishes where I want the bean to be the star, I tend towards the bigger/creamier cannellini bean. Great Northern are a great in-between, but it’s rare that I use this bean as it’s texture isn’t as smooth as the cannellini.

Purchase White Beans

 

Navy Beans from Bob’s Red Mill
Cannellini Beans from Bob’s Red Mill
Great Northern Beans from Bob’s Red Mill
No-salt Added Canned Cannellini Beans
No-salt Added Canned Great Northern Beans
No-salt Added Canned Great Navy Beans

Root Vegetable Pot Pie

see full instructions >

 All Vegetarian White Bean Recipes

  • Asparagus Pasta with White Beans
    Asparagus Pasta with White Beans
  • Baked Cabbage and White Beans
    Baked Cabbage and White Beans
  • Bean Bake with Greens and Turnips
    Bean Bake with Greens and Turnips
  • Braised Potato Salad with White Beans
    Braised Potato Salad with White Beans
  • Bruschetta White Bean Wrap
    Bruschetta White Bean Wrap
  • California Avocado White Bean Dip
    California Avocado White Bean Dip
  • Carrot White Bean Soup with Herbs
    Carrot White Bean Soup with Herbs
  • Chipotle White Bean Tacos
    Chipotle White Bean Tacos
  • Grilled Celeriac with White Bean Puree
    Grilled Celeriac with White Bean Puree
  • Grilled Fennel Salad with Orzo and White Beans
    Grilled Fennel Salad with Orzo and White Beans
  • Harissa Roasted Carrots with White Beans
    Harissa Roasted Carrots with White Beans
  • How to Cook Dried Beans
    How to Cook Dried Beans
  • Miso Butter Brothy Beans with Scallions
    Miso Butter Brothy Beans with Scallions
  • Oat Crepes with Harissa Beans and Tomatoes
    Oat Crepes with Harissa Beans and Tomatoes
  • Pistachio Peach Salad with Ricotta Salata
    Pistachio Peach Salad with Ricotta Salata
  • Potato Beet Salad with White Beans
    Potato Beet Salad with White Beans
  • Quinoa and White Bean Risotto with Brassicas
    Quinoa and White Bean Risotto with Brassicas
  • Quinoa White Bean Stew
    Quinoa White Bean Stew
  • Roasted Beet Salad with Herbs and Spinach
    Roasted Beet Salad with Herbs and Spinach
  • Roasted Red Kuri Squash with Cannellini Bean and Spinach Salad
    Roasted Red Kuri Squash with Cannellini Bean and Spinach Salad
  • Root Vegetable Cassoulet
    Root Vegetable Cassoulet
  • Root Vegetable Pot Pie
    Root Vegetable Pot Pie
  • Smoky Beans and Polenta
    Smoky Beans and Polenta
  • Spicy White Bean Stew with Arugula
    Spicy White Bean Stew with Arugula
  • Three-Bean Vegan Chili
    Three-Bean Vegan Chili
  • Tomato Corona Bean Salad
    Tomato Corona Bean Salad
  • White Bean and Butternut Squash Salad
    White Bean and Butternut Squash Salad
  • White Bean Chard Bake
    White Bean Chard Bake
  • White Bean Dip with Roasted Garlic and Herbs
    White Bean Dip with Roasted Garlic and Herbs
  • White Bean Gnocchi with Cauliflower and Cream Sauce
    White Bean Gnocchi with Cauliflower and Cream Sauce
  • White Bean Masala Smothered Sweet Potatoes
    White Bean Masala Smothered Sweet Potatoes
  • White Bean Pizza with Arugula Salad
    White Bean Pizza with Arugula Salad
  • White Bean Salad with Pea Shoots
    White Bean Salad with Pea Shoots
  • White Beans in Spicy Tomato Sauce
    White Beans in Spicy Tomato Sauce
White Bean

Recent Recipes

  • Oat Crepes with Harissa Beans and Tomatoes
    Oat Crepes with Harissa Beans and Tomatoes
  • Asparagus Pasta with White Beans
    Asparagus Pasta with White Beans
  • How to Cook Dried Beans
    How to Cook Dried Beans

Primary Sidebar

Footer

Don’t Miss a Recipe

  • Bloglovin
  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Pinterest
  • YouTube

Privacy Policy

Copyright © 2022 Naturally. on the Cookd Pro Theme