Last month Jenny introduced the 2016 International Year of the Pulses as a way to add nutrition, affordability, versatility, taste and sustainability to your plate. Did you eat any pulses on January 1st for good luck? Pulses, also known as dried beans, dried peas and lentils have a global history as being a good-luck food for New Year’s Eve and New Year’s Day. Pulses can be found in numerous dishes including beans and greens, hoppin’ john, lentils and rice and many soups. Let’s take the New Year traditions and celebrate the International Year of the Pulses all year long.
Common side dishes at our home include baked beans, beans and rice, and refried beans. Pulses are also tasty in dips like hummus and black bean salsa. How easy is it to top a salad with some canned and rinsed beans or add them to sautéed vegetables or mix them with cooked greens and garlic? This time of year I like to let the slow cooker do the work. This recipe for refried beans in the slow cooker could not be any easier or tastier! Split pea soup is an easy soup to make on the stovetop or in the slow cooker and you can choose to add ham or keep it vegetarian.
One nice thing about split peas and lentils are that they do not need to be soaked before using, unlike many recipes for dried beans like kidney beans or black beans. If you have never prepared dried beans before and would like some step by step instructions, The Bold and Beautiful Book of Bean Recipes(PDF) is very easy to follow. If you ate beans as part of a traditional New Year’s dish, make sure you eat some more throughout the year. If pulses are not yet part of your healthy diet, find some delicious ways to include them in 2016. If you share pictures of your recipes, add these hashtags #IYP2016 #LovePulses #livesmartohio
