Beans And Stew

[atalanta]

Tomorrow I shall be making one of my huge beef stews. I was listening tot he Food Programme today, and they were talking about beans and how nourishing and tasty they were. I looked in the supermarket for beans suitable to add to a stew, but after looking at tins and packets, I am none the wiser. What sort of beans would you suggest, and do I start with dried, tinned or fresh ? How would I get them ready to go in the stew and how long can they cook for before they fall to bits ?

[Mass_Hysteria]

Drain the liquid from tins of baked beans.....perfect

[eanceoil]

When I was cooking large quantities of stews I used to add pearl barley, as the children got older they were quick to tell me, they never liked it, yet they like lentils, they could be the beans and legumes being spoken of on the Food Program, chick peas. I think, if you regularly cook huge beef stews and your family like it, don't change it. I see some stores here in Ireland have a made up 'soup mix' of pulses, maybe you could look at something like that. You can get the chick peas in tins now, years ago I use to have to soak them overnight.

[anneasquith]

Tinned kidney beans, chick peas, mixed beans, pinto beans, butter beans .

[Mamyalynne]

The mixed beans in tins are a handy store cupboard addition.


http://www.tesco.com/groceries/product/details/?id=262489095&gclid=CKao6tC3ns4CFRaeGwod5T8Maw&gclsrc=aw.ds

[MallyJ]

It is ecomnomically much more sensible to use dried beans but they need to be soaked for a couple of hours before use. Baked beans are ok if you want to add a huge amount of sugar to your stew.... but you could substitute other tinned or dried beans for them.

[-SharonA-]

I tend to use dried beans, namely red kidney beans. I boil them in water for an hour then add to cook in stew for another hour.
I find tinned beans go mushy and if using, these really have to be added at the last minute to warm through.

[jamesnan]

Dried beans do have to be cooked properly otherwise there is a risk of poisoning.

[pastafreak]

I don't think I'd like beans/pulses with beef. But with a middle eastern flavoured lamb stew,chickpeas would be good. Or a French cassoulet of pork and other meats plus beans.

[pastafreak]

Ps...I'd start with tinned beans...cheap and you'll only need a tin or two if you're just trying them out.

[mikey4444]

Pearl barley for me as well....nothing thickens a stew or soup better !