Beans & pulses recipes
Beans, peas, chickpeas, lentils – they all count as pulses. Compared to many animal-based protein sources, pulses generally require fewer natural resources to produce and have a much lower environmental footprint. From protein-rich chickpeas, butter beans, split peas and lentils to their high-fibre cousins – kidney beans and black beans – there’s a different pulse to enjoy every day of the week. And that means new recipes to liven up your kitchen karma.
Roast them with spices, add them to homemade houmous, sprinkle over salads, simmer into soups, stews and curries, or air-fry with olive oil and seasoning for a high-fibre, low-hassle snack. Canned beans can be just as healthy as dried beans – once cooked, they’re very similar nutritionally – but they may have added salt, so check the labels. Some contain added stock, which can add extra seasoning to your dish.
FAQs: Everything you need to know about beans
Ali Honour (aka the Bean Queen) is a Cork-based chef and author of BEANS: Recipes for a Pulse-Powered Future. Follow Ali @honouryourfood...
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Creamy lentil & spinach stew
Air-fryer harissa yogurt salmon
Mercimekli tepsi mantisi (baked manti boats with green lentils & onions)
Horseradish-spiked lentils with carrot-top gremolata
Lentil cheeseburger bowls
One-pan harissa chicken & butterbeans
Sea bream with courgettes & chorizo
Preserved lemon chicken & bean ‘tagine’
Pomegranate harissa olives & chickpeas with feta
Miso pesto dipping beans
Olive oil-roasted fennel & beans
Chicken with Greek-style butter beans & tzatziki
Summer beans on toast
Roast tomato, lentil & feta warm salad
Baked potatoes with sausage & bean ragù, winter greens and parmesan
Squash, sweet potato & lentil stew
30 plant spiced shepherds pie & kachumber-style salad
Smoky & spicy chickpeas
Lemony kale & chickpea soup
Ma's stew chicken with rice & peas
One pan black chickpeas with baharat & orange
Afghani pulao with black chickpea salsa
Cauli korma
Spiced lentils & rice
Cumin & lemon chicken with Persian chop salad
One pot leek, turmeric & smoked haddock rice
Pumpkin, leek & white bean soup with freekeh
Beetroot, hazelnut & butter bean salad
Blue cheese & butter bean salad with blackberry vinaigrette
Creamy spinach & leek soup
No-cook spicy chicken & chickpea salad
Harissa lamb, squash & chickpea lasagne
Fatteh-style chicken salad
Confit lemon, bean & green veg salad with goat’s cheese
Summer vegetable pilaf
Spiced black bean & charred corn chilli
Nduja meatballs in tomato sauce
Crispy roast chicken with tomatoey butter beans
Red shrimp & monkfish with pil pil butter and paella rice
Chilli & coriander chicken
Chickpea & spinach pasta
Spiced lamb houmous bowls
Green tikka masala chickpeas
Creamy beans & squash with sage & onion crunch
Cauliflower ‘cheese’
One-pan beef & lentil lasagne
Butter bean & beetroot pie
Mango & curried chickpeas on naan
Masala chickpea pie
Brothy butter beans with cavolo nero
’Nduja, tomato, prawn & butter bean stew
Meatballs in spiced tomato sauce with herby couscous
Coriander pork meatballs with chickpea purée & labneh
Black and white houmous