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Article ID: 13799
Title: Types of Beans and Legumes
By: Rachel Mork

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Types of Beans and Legumes

types of beans

You’ve heard you should eat more beans and legumes, but you’re not sure how. The more you learn about the types of beans and legumes, the easier it will be to add them to both main dishes and side dishes.

Know Your Beans and Legumes
The following is a list and short description of the many beans and legumes you may want to try eating:

Black Beans
Black beans are famous as the mainstay in black bean soup, a natural accompaniment to rice and a filling in burritos and other Latin food. They’re available both canned and dried in most grocery stores.

Kidney Beans
Kidney beans come in a variety of colors: red, dark red and white. The red varieties are mealy, slightly sweet and are typically used in chili dishes and as fillers in soups. The white variety is milder and can become creamy when cooked well. This variety is used in Italian dishes.

Garbanzo Beans
These acorn-shaped, yellow legumes are used in soups and as the base for hummus, a popular Middle Eastern spread. They are also called chickpeas.

Lima Beans
Famous for their buttery flavor, these beans are large and can be either light green or cream-colored. They are served as a side dish, often cooked with bits of bacon for additional flavor.

Mung Beans
These tiny beans are commonly used in Asian dishes, often after they have sprouted. They come in several colors, such as green, black, brown and red. The red beans (also called Adzuki beans) are used to make bean paste, a sweet paste used in Asian pastries.

Black-Eyed Peas
Black-eyed peas are commonly used in Southern dishes and as side dishes.