I am looking for more main dishes with beans- but also that do not include a ton of potatoes (okay bad carbs, but good ones are fine ). Just trying to eat healthier and cheaper if possible!! Thanks!
Okay so I'll share- last night I threw together waht we had on hand in a pot for soup: lentils carrots celery zucchini corn onion stewed tomatoes chicken broth pepper/parsley/garlic for flavor What do you do?
Tonight I am doing beans with rice and sausage. Instead of water, I used beef broth (homemade). I'm throwing in a little shredded nori as well as the "sea veggie" I used adzuki beans since they are super high in fiber. Fingers crossed this works ok - LOL
I was going to suggest lentil soup. Yum! I was just watching $10 Dinners (or whatever that Food Network show is called) and she was talking about a pasta made with all kinds of beans, lentils, chickpeas, etc. that has 10 grams of protein per serving. She said it is about $1 more a box than other pasta, but for that price--and as a meat replacement--you can't go wrong.
We do a crockpot dish with salsa, beans (I use canned but you could cook them first I suppose), and frozen chicken (not mandatory) and frozen corn and in the last half hour I add a block of cream cheese. SO yummy as a chili type thing or over rice or chips.
I make red beans and rice with a little sausage... my family just loves it. I also make a taco soup with tons of beans... black beans, red beans, stew tomatos, pinto beans, chili beans, and taco seasons... you can add meat or not... its up to you. I serve with chips and cheese... my family just eats it all up!
We love chicken pieces cooked in Italian seasoning, black beans, spanish rice (make with rice, taco seasoning and stewed tomatoes) and lettuce on a tortilla.
beans, combined with rice and veggies in a food processor make a great veggie burger. I also do beans and rice, or chili with beans and no beef (we try not to eat much red meat), the boys lovee when I make bean soup. You can also add beans to regular dishes to replace the meat, for example using beans in burritos instead of beef, or using white beans instead of chicken in casseroles or pot pie. I also like to sprinkle cooked beans over a salad for added protein. You can serve a mashed bean type dish instead of mashed potatoes in a meal.
So you put the rice, beans and veggies in a food processor, then "patty them up" and fry or grill them like you would a hamburger? Do they stay together, or do you have to add something to keep them together?
Oh we eat lots of dried beans here. Chili, beans as a sidedish, beans as a sub for meat, black bean and rice tostadas, hoppin' John, homemade hummus, 15 bean soup, refried beans, bean burrittos, Redneck Caviar, red beans and rice...lots of good stuff! We also eat lots of potatoes and pasta and rice. Cause they are all cheap. Soups and casseroles are a money saver for us, as well as less meat per meal (1/2 lb ground meat will make a casserole or pot of soup) Though I often use the whole pound and make a double batch so I can freeze half for the next week. This saves money by cutting energy cost and eating out cost It's easy to eat out because you're too tired to cook, but if there is a nice homemade meal int eh freezer you just have to warm....you're less likely to waste money eating out
I'm making bean and ham soup today. I've got the beans on to soak (quick method) and I had saved some ham from the last time we had spiral ham in the freezer)........ I'll add some chicken broth, small bits of carrot and instant potatoes to thicken it. I usually add a small can of tomato sauce too. ..... and various herbs and salt and pepper.
