Many times I’ve mentioned how much we love dried beans. They’re fairly healthy, a good source of fiber, easy to fix. It’s especially easy to cook dry beans in the Instant Pot. Also, dry beans are low cost and store easily.
There are a million (almost) ways to cook beans! In the past, we’ve eaten mostly pinto and black beans. Lately, Vince has fallen in love with the small red beans and he asks for them several times a week. I’ve been experimenting with dry beans – trying different types of beans and using different recipes.
Until recently, I had never noticed canary beans, which seem to go by several different names. After a bit of internet digging, I found quite a few recipes so I kinda combined the ingredients I thought we would like.
The ingredients I used (clockwise): chili powder, a can of diced tomatoes, cumin, salt, chili peppers, garlic, onions, smoked garlic powder, paprika, marjoram, and Mexican oregano and of course, the dried canary beans.
Everything was done in the Instant Pot. The garlic and onions were sauteed in a bit of oil, then everything else was added. Oregano and chili powder are not my favorite seasonings so I didn’t use as much of those. I love cumin, but Vince doesn’t like it so I didn’t use as much as I would have liked to have used.
It’s rare that I soak the beans because cooking dry beans in the Instant Pot is so quick and easy that I just don’t take the time to soak them. I do, however, add plenty of water for cooking. Beans that have been soaked in water, because they’ve absorbed a lot of water, require less water than do beans that have not been soaked. In this recipe, I used half a pound of dried beans and probably four or five cups of water.
Everything was cooked on high for 30 minutes. I let it cool down for 20 minutes or so, tasted the beans, then cooked it another 20 minutes on high. We like our beans soft.
We had chicken/dressing, okra and the beans in a bowl. I like all beans. Vince is a bit picky about his beans. He said on a scale of 1 – 10, he’d give them a 9. I’ll take it!
Now that I’ve received a good review for the canary beans, I’ll continue experimenting with dry beans.
Osage Bluff Quilter says
Have you tried yellow eyed beans? We love them.
Judy Laquidara says
Have not tried them but I just ordered some. Thanks!
Frieda says
I buy dry beans from Rancho Gordo. They are always fresher that store bought. They have a lot of different varieties. Try them some time.
Judy Laquidara says
Thanks! Just placed an order. I had never tried them but they have many different kinds of beans that aren’t available in our local stores.
Susan Nixon says
I’m telling you, if you ever try the Anasazi beans, you’ll throw pintos away.
Judy Laquidara says
I grow Anasazi beans here and can as many fresh ones as I can.