What Are Good Ways to Cook Kid Friendly Black Beans or Pinto Beans?

I just getting into beans and lentils myself. Any dry beans I use I end up soaking overnight and changing the water several times. If I don't do that, we end up having intestinal gas problems for awhile (Beano does not seem to help us much). Canned beans you can just rinse and use. Split pea (or lentil) soup is always good, and there are so many variations to try. Bean dips are also good. And bean salads. Beans in chili (it does not have to be too spicy).

I love to make black beans for my family. I put a little olive oil in a pan, add sliced (large slices) of onion and green peppers. Let them cook for a minute. You can even add a slice of bacon. Then add the black beans. Let it cook together for a few minutes. For extra seasoning add seasoning salt, chili pepper (a must), pepper, you could even use onion and garlic powder just a little. I usually take out the onion, peppers and bacon before serving. Hope that helps. good luck

Here are a few of my favorite bean recipes...

- 1 can of Cannelini beans (rinsed) + 1/2 purple onion (sliced thin) + olive oil + kosher salt + crusty bread.... this one doesn't even involve cooking. Put all of the ingredients together, marinate for about an hour, serve on crunchy bread.

- Frozen Fava Beans + zucchini + yellow squash + spinach + olive oil. Oil once or twice around a saute pan. Saute z&c until mostly cooked. Add frozen favas. Avoid stirring too much. Saute until not frozen/warm, add a few handfuls of spinach. Heat until hot and spinach is all wilted. Salt and pepper.

- Fava (dried and soaked) + Garbanzo + Tomato + lemon juice + olive oil + cumin + S&P. Put everything together (less olive oil, just barely enough to coat... more lemon... and just a teensy pinch of cumin)... and let marinate preferable overnight.

- Homemade refried beans: Pinto + onion + garlic + olive oil + lime juice (optional salsa, optional ham bone or minced teensy slivers of ham). ((Ahem, yes you can use lard, but that rather defeats the purpose of the healthier side of things)). Boil the beans soft soft soft. If you're using a ham bone have it in the boiling water. While you're doing this sautee some chopped onion & garlic. If your'e doing ham, mince it teensy tiny. Save about 2 cups of bean water. Drain the rest. Mash the beans. Add onion, garlic, a swirl of olive oil, s&p. and bean water (& ham &/or salsa). Stir on med/low or low until it's the consistency you want it at.

Hummus & pita : Yum. You can make your own (garbanzos and tahini and lemon) or buy it.

Black beans.... add tomato + cilantro + cumin + cinnamon
Black beans.... boil them with a ham bone or hock
Black beans.... add middle eastern zataar or indian garam masala
Black beans.... make a salad with beans, corn, tomato, & cillantro and

Google chili recipes. (you can also just dump canned chili in a caserole, pour cornbread over the top... bake until cornbread is done... and voila.
Google italian soup recipes

Hopefully someone else will have a recipe, because I just cook them without really thinking about it. I hate to cook, and I don't really like food much, but I love beans! If nobody sends you a recipe you like, send me a message and I'll try to type something out. We eat a lot of beans in our house, so once you get them cooked, here are some easy, quick ideas:

Mash them up with a potato masher and do the following -

Put them in tortillas with cheese for burritos (add hot sauce/pico de gallo if desired)

Put them on tostada shells and add cheese, lettuce, tomatoes, whatever sounds good

Do the same as above on corn chips for quick nachos

If you're in a hurry, you can just put beans and cheese in a bowl and have it as a dip with chips

Ideas for unmashed beans:

Make chili (I like Wick Fowler's packets - just add meat and follow the directions) then add beans, cheese, and fritos

Here's a very easy soup (I don't have measurements; just add what you want depending on how much you want to make) You can use canned veggies, too.:

Chicken broth
Diced Chicken
Diced Potatoes
Black Beans
Corn
Rotel
Oregano
Salt
Pepper
Garlic
Tortilla Chips (added to bowl when served)
Grated Cheese (also added when served)

Enjoy!

There is a 3-bean casserole that is real good... but darn, I don't have the recipe. My Grandma used to make it. SO good!
But there are many versions of it online.
http://www.cooks.com/rec/search/0,1-0,three_bean_casserol...

I too love beans.
Or there is 3-bean salad. Just put one can each of kidney beans/garbanzo beans/green beans in a bowl and then toss with Italian dressing. Let it marinate a couple hours. Then eat. Super good. My favorite and so easy to make.

Or, get different kinds of beans, melt cheese over it, sprinkle with bacon, and serve. That's it. Real good.

Lost of good bean recipes online.
http://www.abbys-kitchen.com/beans-navy-beans-green-bean-...
http://southernfood.about.com/library/crock/blbean.htm
http://www.recipezaar.com/recipes.php?categ=main-ingredie...

Just buy beans that are in cans... therefore it is easier to prep and cook. No need for washing/soaking the beans first to soften it.

Good luck,
Susan

My kids like black beans with just a little lime juice squeezed over them before cooking.

I like a simple meal of canned beans over rice with a sprinkle of cajun spice mix. For my family, I like to sneak canned black beans and corn into tacos.

Here is a recipe for pinto bean pizza casserole that my father makes.

2 or 3 cans of pinto beans, drained
1/2 onion diced
1/3 C sliced green olives (or black olives if you prefer)
1/4 lb pepperoni, quartered.
1/2 lb grated mozerella cheese
3/4 of a 14 oz. jar pizza sauce
pizza topping spice mix
**Save out some pepperoni rounds, sliced olives, and cheese for topping.**
Mix together beans, onions, olives, cheese, pepperoni, and
sauce. Spoon mix into casserole. You can either mix 2/3
of the grated cheese into the beans, or layer beans, cheese, beans. Top
with the rest of the cheese, olives, pepperoni and pizza spice.
Bake at 375° F for about an hour. Cover with foil if cheese browns too fast.

Oh my goodness my husband and I LOVE pinto beans. We often have beans and cornbread as a meal. Super cheap too! Even enough left for another dinner. My 2 girl's wouldn't touch them for anything though. So I feed them something else. But we love them. Makes me sad to hear others don't like them....LOL!

I soak them in water the night before and then I put them in my crock pot before work in the morning. I put the beans in first. Then i fill the pot up with water. Not to the top but more than enough to cook the beans. Then I add a chopped up onion and uncooked bacon. Salt and pepper to taste! They are wonderful.

Maybe you could do a smaller version of this for your son. Don't have to add bacon or onions. Just season them real well. Let them cook until they are tender and I think he may like them. Wish i could get my girl's to like them.

I am however very interested in reading how other moms make them. I like them so much I would love to try cooking them other ways. But for now I do them the way I know how. And all of the moms out there now must think I am just a total "bean freak" I promise you it's not that serious. Oh but they ARE yummy! :)

we use black beans instead of meat in tacos, in quesadillas, and even in spanish rice! i recently started making jambalaya with black eyed peas and chick peas too!

Black beans and corn! One can black beans (rinse them first) then add them to a pan with some frozen corn. Add some butter (as much or as little as you like), salt, pepper and heat through - that's all!

My husband and I like to add jalepenos to ours but obviously not a good idea for a child!

If you're cooking dried beans, (not from a can) they must be soaked over-night or @ 8 hours in water. In the morning, pour off the water, add fresh water and boil at least 1 hour until they're very soft, and smush easily between your fingers. cooking time really varies, and it's always better to over cook than under cook. just keep adding water as it will cook off. Under cooked beans will give him gas...not fun.
As far as spices, it depends what he likes. I use garlic and onion, which I add when they're about finished. Cumin also goes great with beans

Try taco soup

1lb browned ground beef or turkey crumbled

Thenn put ground beef and the following into the crockpot on high heat for 3-4 hours

1 can corn
1 can black beans
1 can garbonzo beans
1 can petite diced tomatoes
2 8oz cans tomato sauce
1 packet of taco seasoning
1 packet of powdered ranch dressing mix

you can also add green chiles or black olives if you like.

I serve topped with shredded cheese and crumbled totilla chips.

my 18 month old loves beans...and all I do is pop open a can of black beans, add salt, pepper, and cumin. Sometimes I mix it with a half a can of corn and a tomato, make some quick brown rice and he loves it. They're very low maintenance and don't take a lot to make them good...especially for the kiddos.

i make beans all the time we love them. I don't soak over night I just buy a bag of beans and obviously check them for little rocks or anything. Rinse them off and put them in microwave safe bowl put beans in there and fill with water. Cook for about 8 to ten min just to soften them up. then put them in a pot but pour water off first. cover beans with fresh water about 2 tbl spoons of canola or olive oil. Put a whole onion i just fourth it because my kids don't like onions so it is easier to just take out but needs that flavor. i also put carrots, canned tomatoes, ect. really waterever. right before done which is about 1.5 -2 hours sometimes you have to add more water, anyways add a little chili powder and salt. the key i think to beans is not to add salt until done because that is why so many beans don't cook because of the salt. Goodluck!!

Start by putting dry pinto beans in cold water with one garlic clove. Let boil for a few hours until they start getting soft -- you can then season with whatever you like. Slice 4-5 slices of turkey bacon, turkey sausage, chicken sausage, etc. and add to the beans. Very healthy with a lot of flavor!

We almost always have a pot of beans made but I just make them in the crock pot for maybe 5 hours and have never had a need to soak them beforehand. Just make sure to keep an eye on them and add water as needed. I usually add salt, chili powder, cumin, chicken bouillon, and fresh garlic before cooking.

Then you can serve with eggs, corn tortilla and cheese, nachos, frito pie, bean and rice burrito, however you like. Have fun!

I have cooked hundreds of pots of red beans -literally... Our little Grandaughter is 3 and can't eat enough of them. My dad always added pork salt cut up, tomatoes, onions and hot peppers to his - but I prefer and my family does too just plain.

Wash and sort beans of rocks and dirt. Put in a large pan (beans will double in amount when cooked) I cover them with 3" water and salt and pepper well. Bring them to a boil - cover - and lower heat to low - cook for 2 1/2 hours stirring occassionally and when more water is needed I heat in microwave and place hot water in and continue cooking. We like our beans cooked on the softer side - I like to thicken the juice before serving, so at the end I take cornstarch and cold water and make medium thin paste and pour into boiling beans - stirring well. If they don't get think enough do it again. enjoy... I think alot of people do the same thing in a crock pot cooking for about 8 hours on low - but remember NOT to take the lid off and stir - this will cause the cooking to not be right on a crock pot. I still prefer the stovetop method...

You could try black beans with turkey sausage and/or rice-like dirty rice. Also, you could take tostitos put pintos or a mild chili beans on them and cheese and make nachos-usually microwave between 20-30seconds.