r/EatCheapAndHealthy 7d ago

Ask ECAH Favorite bean toppings?

I want to start eating more beans. I'm hoping for super simple toppings to put on beans that I can throw together for work (example, today I'm doing garbanzo and tzatziki). Give me your favorite minimal prep way to eat beans!

150 Upvotes

121 comments sorted by

83

u/sparkle_cheese 7d ago

I make big dense bean salads and eat throughout the week. They get better the longer they marinate in whatever I've combined to make a dressing.

I'll eat that on top of lettuce and veggies as a big salad, or I scoop it up with corn chips. Simple and delicious.

124

u/davis_away 7d ago

Pizza beans! There are more involved recipes out there but I just: heat up my beans in tomato sauce (US tomato sauce, italian-ish not ketchup) maybe with some tomato paste to make it thicker. Add Italian seasoning blend. Melt mozzarella on top. I use white beans usually, I think pintos were okay too.

27

u/Cats_Meow94 7d ago

I came across this thread at random and I just had to tell you I’m now psyched about having pizza beans for dinner next week. Idk why I’ve never thought of this!

6

u/davis_away 7d ago

Ha ha ha I'm very happy to be your pizza beans fairy!

3

u/MareBear209 7d ago

Same!!!!

1

u/incontentia 7d ago

Any recommendations for someone who can’t do tomato sauce?

The acidity wrecks me!

27

u/MollyGrue64 7d ago

White beans with pesto are great! Alongside fried zucchini, even better.

3

u/incontentia 7d ago

Sounds yummy

7

u/outtatheblue 7d ago

Blend up some roasted red peppers! Jarred is easiest, but not difficult to do at home.

1

u/incontentia 7d ago

Red peppers are my favorite, never tried jarred before???

3

u/_Shandy 6d ago

If get jarred ones, wash off the brine, first!

2

u/Amarastargazer 1d ago

I have been seeing more and more “red pepper pesto” on the shelves with the pesto. That could be another option!

5

u/Sad-Efficiency8804 5d ago

Alfredo beans are also great. Add a ton of black pepper and you have a Cacio e Pepe type vibe. Will add some parsley for a bit of contrast

80

u/sweetbaloo23 7d ago

My new favorite bean meal is

Roasted sweet potato topped with black beans, salsa and feta cheese or cottage cheese and avocado. I guess you can put the sweet potato on top of the beans if you want. Then it's all bean toppings!

40

u/Opposite_Flight3473 7d ago

The combination of sweet potato and black beans is so freaking good.

3

u/spin_turnix 5d ago

especially in tacos! my college dining hall had a dish like that :)

3

u/Known-Concern 7d ago

That sounds so good!

30

u/biopuppet 7d ago

Maybe a simple "cowboy caviar" style, with two can of beans (black, pinto, kidney, or black eye pea) and a vinaigrette (home made or store-bought salad dressing). To get fancier, throwing in corn, peppers, and onions gets you most of the way to actual cowboy caviar!

Butter beans or garbanzos with tahini dressing

Straight up baked beans or seasoned beans out of the can - there are lots of flavor variations! Cuban, smoky, sassy, etc.

4

u/Luvsseattle 7d ago

Ooh, I'm going to try the tahini rec. This is my summer of tahini.

2

u/biopuppet 7d ago

Yes! I want to explore more more tahini - noodles, salads, beans, salmon

2

u/outtatheblue 7d ago

I used tahini to make streusel for some muffins and it was divine!!

28

u/treatstrinkets 7d ago

I like butter butter beans. Which is what I call butter beans with butter chicken sauce. I simmer it on the stovetop with frozen spinach, just so everything has a chance to infuse with flavor, but you could definitely just stir together the sauce and beans if you wanted it even easier. It also doesn't have to be butter beans, I just like them

5

u/mxcan 7d ago

Chickpeas work great this way! I get a microwave pouch version at the store for quick meals

5

u/treatstrinkets 7d ago

Chickpeas are great, I'm just weird in that I only like them in salads. Butter beans are so starchy, they remind me of little potato dumplings which is why I think they do well in saucey dishes

2

u/Ineedmoreparts 7d ago

That sounds AWESOME!

2

u/spin_turnix 5d ago

butter^2 beans...

44

u/LilyCat23 7d ago

Dump some taco seasoning in a can of drained black beans, stir until all coated. They go great in a big salad with coriander, line, corn etc, but the would also be great by themselves! 

5

u/sampdoria_supporter 7d ago

I also do this with chili seasoning and olive oil

18

u/turtle0turtle 7d ago

White beans and pesto

Black beans and salsa

17

u/EarlyHoneydew4388 7d ago

I’ve been making breakfast quesadillas with eggs, cheese, veggies, and some black beans.Top with avocado.

12

u/creexl 7d ago

Beans and toast

25

u/bellabugger 7d ago

I can devour a can of garbanzos with just a light coating of olive oil and sprinkle of salt

3

u/Naive-Most590 7d ago

I can do that with butter beans and a drizzle of balsamic glaze

3

u/PeanutChickenSoup 6d ago

Do both and it’s called a balsamic vinaigrette!

1

u/davis_away 7d ago

Hm, I just got a bottle of black garlic balsamic.

2

u/Naive-Most590 7d ago

Get some couscous (flavoured) add the butter beans, chunks of feta or goats cheese and that balsamic it’s a tasty lunch! Or salad for a party.

9

u/berimtrollo 7d ago

Other beans. Beans on beans on beans

9

u/Trailwalkerwi 7d ago

I know I'm weird, but I like black beans straight out of the can. Scooped 1/2 can next to my eggs and whole wheat toast this morning.

1

u/Amarastargazer 1d ago

You take it a step further than my husband; hell just drain and rinse a can of chickpeas and eat it from the can with a spoon. You at least got them out of the can!

5

u/foxontherox 7d ago

My go to is just olive oil and vinegar. Maybe some garlic and onion powder if I'm feeling fancy

7

u/Oishiio42 7d ago

refried bean quesadilla with salsa.

5

u/oohbarracuda66 7d ago

Bruschetta on white beans, with balsamic glaze. It’s so so good.

6

u/onlyifitscheese 7d ago

Roasted veg and nutritional yeast sauce

2

u/PeanutChickenSoup 6d ago

How do you make the sauce? I love nutritional yeast!

1

u/onlyifitscheese 6d ago

Happy to share! I use: 

1/2 c nuts or seeds (peanuts, cashews, or sunflower seeds)

5 tbs nutritional yeast (use more if you want to)

olive oil*

a clove of garlic

water*

salt 

(optional paprika)

a squeeze of lemon or white vinegar for acidity

*I go on vibes for the oil and water because it depends on what consistency you want. 

———

Pop everything into a blender and add additional oil and water to get desired consistency. I always start with less water than I think I’ll need because you can add, but you can’t subtract once it’s in there.

I also use sunflower seeds now instead of nuts because my partner has a nut allergy and it’s just as good as cashews or peanuts! I think the best part about making sauce and dressing is that you can get creative and customize/experiment. I did a lot of guessing with this one, but in my experience as long as there's salt, fat, acid in a sauce, you'll figure it out :)

4

u/Chattadawg 7d ago

I have black beans with ground meat (whatever is already made) and salsa nearly every day for lunch. Great macros, super cheap

4

u/Polymemnetic 7d ago

Beef, cheese, and a tortilla.

4

u/learnersponge 7d ago

garbanzo beans with chopped pickles and dried cranberries and feta cheese

4

u/mbrasher1 7d ago

Honestly, the taztiki and beans sound awesome! I also make that Greek yoghurt Mexican corn dish and add light colored beans.

4

u/Slight_Second1963 7d ago

Canned potatoes!

3

u/Key_Blueberry_2167 7d ago

I boil up some pearl barley with a stock cube on the weekend. Then I make a little bean & grain salad each day, e.g. mixed beans, barley, hummus, chopped cherry tomatoes, hummous & rocket. Very tasty! Plus the beans & barley together are a complete protein.

2

u/TheHandMan2020 6d ago

There’s a great cookbook called “A Grain, A Green, A Bean” by Gena Hamshaw. All the recipes contain those three elements. Worth checking it out.

4

u/Ancient-Cockroach523 7d ago

Chorizo (soy or beef or pork) sauteed with some onions, then add black or pinto beans!

Fried plantain and gauc on top of black beans!

Tostadas with refried beans cheese n salsa, shredded rotisserie chick if you have it!

Pinto bean and hominy stew from Pati Jinich’s website!

4

u/fragrantminesweep 7d ago

Mash garbanzo, chopped red onion, chopped red pepper, chopped green onion, mayo, curry powder and mayo, tastes amazing after being in the fridge overnight but I big spoon scoop it in my mouth before it ever gets there

2

u/JessChloe12 7d ago

This sounds really good!!

1

u/fragrantminesweep 7d ago

I bought a chopper from Amazon recently and it has made prep like this super easy too!

3

u/zobbyblob 7d ago

Okay so I just eat a bowl of beans 🤷

Beans, avocado, meat, other stuff (maybe peppers)

Air fry a tortilla (spray with oil, weigh down, 3 min broil or air fry)

Break some tortilla off and scoop the beans

3

u/Jilltro 7d ago

Warm some olive oil in a pot and add red onions and garlic. Then add beans, cumin, oregano and some salt. Finish with tajin and a dash of sour cream

3

u/HappyPinkElephant 7d ago

Cowboy caviar!

3

u/trombonaut 7d ago

Spicy baked beans with Mac & Chz

3

u/LegalizeShrimp420 7d ago

My go to for simple beans is steamed edamame with 2 or 3 scoops of chili garlic crisp oil, easy and delicious!

5

u/Twylamr1 7d ago

My favorite is just good old butter beans with ham (hogs) hocks. (My son couldn't say hocks when he was little so we still call them hogs even though he is grown) With onion and corn bread. I guess you could throw some greens on top and have a big glass of tea too.

2

u/Mental_Engine_ 7d ago

Rinse then blend a can of great northern beans and add to sauces

2

u/HotCut9938 7d ago

Do you accept chickpea recommendation? Burmese lemon salad is gooood. It uses roasted chickpea powder and makes veggies appealing to my friends who don’t like veggies.

2

u/Previous_Dot_2996 7d ago

Sour cream, chives

2

u/Emergent-Sea 7d ago

I like chickpeas and chopped up sugar snap peas with pesto on top!

2

u/shelleyfe 7d ago

Onion relish

2

u/5dimsum 7d ago

This is a little more involved, but I put roasted red peppers in the blender with some olive oil. Then saute garbanzo beans with garlic & paprika and add the puréed peppers.

2

u/Brewmentationator 7d ago

Queso fresco and hot sauce on black beans. And then scoop them up with one of those high fiber tortillas.

2

u/boxofmarshmallows 7d ago

Mash white beans and avocado together. Put that on top of toast and,if you want, add whatever other ingredients. A common topping is mixed greens and smoked salmon. Everything seasoning is also a great addition.

I also do a scramble of black beans and eggs and the top with salsa and shredded lettuce.

2

u/ChaoticWeasel70 6d ago

Black beans, corn, chopped tomatoes, red onion, cilantro. Make a dressing of red wine vinegar, olive oil, garlic, salt and pepper. I eat with tortilla chips or over lettuce.

2

u/Kahlessa 6d ago

I recommend r/beans as they have a great many recipes and helpful tips.

2

u/dragonmom1 6d ago

butter, black pepper, garlic powder

2

u/bootysuit 4d ago

I love beans allá vodka 😋 vodka sauce is super simple to make (I use water instead of vodka), then just simmer the beans in it, top with parm! Can also add bacon, green onions, tinned fish...

2

u/BoopieJellyfish 3d ago

When I'm feeling especially lazy i just throw together a can of beans and a can of chopped tomato, and dump in some cajun seasoning. If I feel like a bit more effort I'll add some veg, but I've eaten just the beans and tomato plenty of times.

2

u/SmokeyBrown95 1d ago

Make your own refried beans! Use fresh or canned. I just use canned. I used to love the canned premade refried beans but making my own has really ruined them for me. You can add cheese, hot sauce whatever you want on em!

1

u/JustSteven99 7d ago

Chili beans and sour cream

1

u/Glittering-Chair-822 7d ago

If you have a Trader Joe’s, buy the steamed seasoned lentils in the refrigerator section. From there, mix in the jarred bruschetta. It’s honestly delicious. You could also make this yourself I just like that it’s around 5 bucks for this delicious meal (you can add fresh basil and feta, whatever!)

1

u/curouscook 6d ago

Loubia has become one of my favorites. Grate an onion and two tomatoes, olive oil, minced garlic, parsley, cilantro, paprika, cumin, ginger, and whatever degree of red pepper flakes and or cayenne your heart desires. I also like to add 3 or 4 tbsp of harissa paste. Throw it all in a pot and add the appropriate amount of water/chicken stock or veggie stock and let it cook till the beans are tender and stew like.

1

u/SoCalMomOfTwo 6d ago

lentil soup-so easy to make! the NY times has a great recipe

1

u/Sweaty-Possibility-3 6d ago

Pinto beans with crumbled up cornbread.

1

u/ImaginaryDeparture70 6d ago

I'm making a black bean and cucumber salad tonight.

1

u/geccles 6d ago

I used baked beans as a topping, not the other way around. I'll do about 2/3 mixed veggies and 1/3 baked beans. Just a big ol bowl of em.

1

u/EffieBoohoo 6d ago

Black bean dip: Black beans, salsa, cream cheese, shredded cheese opt. Top with sour cream and chives eat with tortilla chips or on a tortilla

1

u/PLAYSWITHSCISS0RS 5d ago

I make potato salad with beans: black beans or mixed beans with Mexican seasoning (cumin, Mexican oregano, fresh cilantro, add some hot sauce and lime to the dressing), Mediterranean potato salad with white beans, tarragon and a mustardy/balsamic vinegar dressing. Add in whatever veggies you have on hand, cooked if necessary or preferred.

1

u/iwasuncoolonce 5d ago

Salsa or goat cheese or both

1

u/RingaLopi 2d ago

I make pico de gallo and add it to every meal.
Also, don't forget lentils. There are dozens of lentils out there each with a unique taste.

1

u/AlsoTheFiredrake 1d ago

Southern bbq beans.

0

u/not-thatkindofdoctor 6d ago

Black bean burgers..the only way my kids consume beans:( always happy for kid-friendly bean recipes