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