Beans and Lentils

This last week in July marks the half way point for summer. Enjoy spicy black beans in the middle of summer or again in the middle of winter. I’m loving our new base for making black beans in the instant pot. We’re calling it the Golden Base.

Lentils are a great source of protein and only take about 20 minutes to make. Combining lentils with orzo, a short-cut pasta shaped like a large grain of rice, makes a casserole that you’ll want to eat a lot of.

Black lentils are smaller than black beans and have a deep, rich, earthy (though not dirty) taste.  They have a thicker skin that helps them hold their shape yet they are tender and toothsome.

New Orleans has a tasty Monday tradition known as Red Beans and Rice. Try our vegan version with stewing bell pepper, onion, carrot, mushroom, and celery with spices (allspice, cayenne pepper, mustard powder and more). The red kidney beans cook perfectly in the instant pot. This is a great alternative to chili.

This black bean and rice recipe is so savory and flavorful and the leftovers are even better the next day. 

A summertime favorite, these are not your average veggie burger. Hearty, smoky and juicy, beet burgers are nutritionally dense and irresistibly delicious.