One of my new eating habits this year is to get more protein at breakfast, which makes a big difference in my energy level throughout the day. As a vegetarian, my preferred source for protein is beans, and there are so many varieties, including heirlooms, that it never gets boring! Here are some recipes I enjoy or want to try. Do you have any favorite ways to eat beans for breakfast?
We always keep a couple cans of beans in the pantry but ideally make beans from scratch – they're so much more delicious (and less wasteful) that way! If you're new to cooking beans, don't worry, it's really not difficult; check out our posts on How To Cook Beans, A Fast, Foolproof, No-Soak Method, How to Cook Beans in the Slow Cooker, and Cooking Beans in a Clay Pot. I like to cook up a pot the night before or on Sunday so we have plenty for the week ahead.
As for recipes, there's no rule that states you must eat a certain type of dish for breakfast or dinner. A bowl of vegetarian chili or lentil soup can taste just perfect on a cold morning. But if you're looking for something a little more "breakfast-y," here are some suggestions:
• Bean Chilaquiles – A hearty meal made with tortillas, pinto-type beans, eggs, and salsa
• Breakfast Burrito – I like mine with black beans and leftover brown rice and vegetables from the night before
• Baked Beans On Toast – A British favorite, served with a drizzle of malt vinegar
• Tofu Scramble – To this recipe or any other tofu scramble, add some cooked beans such as black or pinto
• Ful Medammes – An Egyptian and Arabic breakfast made from fava beans, olive oil, garlic, and lemon juice, and served with pita bread
• Chè Đậu Xanh – To make this Vietnamese dessert soup healthier for breakfast, I increase the mung beans and decrease the sugar; it's also good with grated ginger
Related: Good Question: How Can I Make Beans More Digestible?
(Image: Faith Durand)
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I have been experimenting with different bean spreads that I come up with on toast. This week I made a spicy black bean spread and last week I had New Orleans Style Beans. I found that cooking the beans until they start to fall apart give them a nice creamy texture and allows all the flavors to come together (without adding any fat).
Juan, when I read your post it sounded like you came up with these bean spreads while you were on toast!! Gave me a chuckle :)
Thanks for offering tips on cooking beans. I know it's probably the simplest thing in the world, but I've never done it and now I will. Learned so much from this blog.
One of my favorite things to eat of all-time is fried beans with grated cheese and a tortilla (and sometimes solid cheese) on the side. In Nicaragua, we cook with small red beans, so although this recipe calls for friend, it's quite relative. I don't like my beans too fried because they get dry and hard. Instead, I like them saucy and a little fried. Take boiled beans and some of the water and cook them in a small pot or pan, doesn't really make a diffference. You add ground onion, some salt, ground pepper and ground garlic to taste and voila. Sprinkle it with grated cheese (although it has to be a Nicaraguan dry cheese in order for this to be authentic) and have it with a warm or toasted corn tortilla on the side. And we are huge cheese lovers, so we'll have a different kind of cheese (maybe a smoked one) on the side as well!
I know it's supposed to be a vegan recipe, but perhaps you can substitute it with some kind of cheese substitute? Dunno.
Anyway, I love this simple and comforting dish at any time of the day, especially for breakfast.
Regarding my previous post, sometimes I have a hard time connecting the correct terms from one language to another. I wouldn't say the beans are fried, unless they really are, but rather cooked at low-medium heat.
Vegan Brunch has an excellent bean "quiche" and gravy recipe that are perfect for those who want a purely savoury bean experience in the morning.
my favorite breakfast of all time is a bean and cheese taquito =D not the healthiest choice, but i get my much needed protein! (mashed pinto beans and cheddar cheese wrapped in a flour tortilla)
I often have leftover dal in a pita bread for breakfast. Yum!
My favorite beans for breakfast are the amazing refried beans and fried tortillas you get in belize - I've been searching for an authentic recipe to re-create these refried beans at home. Any suggestions???
I made bean chilaquiles this morning using black beans (from a pot not a can) that I made two nights ago. YUM! great breakfast! I ate two hours ago and I am still full :-)
please someone take away AOOFOFO's (above) priviledges...very annoying to see blatent advertising where it doesn't belong
Also a vietnamese recipe but try sweet rice with mung beans. The web is littered with recipes for it but my method for cooking it involves just throwing the two together in the rice cooker. You can serve it with a pat of butter or sweetened coconut milk.