Three Meals from One Pound of Beans

A pound of dried navy beans provides six cups of cooked beans, which is plenty for at least three different recipes. Try these ideas for stretching a pound of beans into three dinners.

White Bean Chili: Cook one pound of lean ground beef and ½ cup chopped onion in a skillet until the onion is translucent and the beef is no longer pink. Add a 15-ounce can of diced tomatoes, eight ounces of tomato sauce, 1 tablespoon chili powder. Stir in two cups of cooked navy beans. Cover the pot and simmer for 20 minutes.

Ranch-Style Barbecued Beans: Sauté 1 cup chopped onions, in 2 tablespoons of oil. Add ¼ cup brown sugar, 2 tablespoons prepared mustard, 1 tablespoon cider vinegar, a 15-ounce can stewed tomatoes. Add 2 cups of cooked navy beans. Simmer, covered for 20 minutes.

Creamy Bean and Tomato Soup: Sauté ½ cup diced onion in 2 tablespoons olive oil until soft. Add 3 cloves garlic, minced and sauté for another 2 minutes. Add two 28-ounce cans of tomatoes, 4 cups of vegetable or chicken stock, and one tablespoon dried basil. Stir in 2 cups cooked navy beans. Simmer uncovered for 15 minutes. Use an immersion blender or food processor to blend the soup until it’s smooth.