oil-free-vegan-beans-and-greens

One Pot Beans and Greens

Beans & greens – this dish was one of John’s favorites. His family used to make them with spicy sausage and loads of oil. We knew we needed to figure out an easy, yet delish vegan one pot beans and greens recipe that would satisfy that craving, but fit in our (mostly) whole food plant based lifestyle.

The Beans

We recently mastered cooking dried beans using a pinch (1/16 teaspoon) of kelp granules and salt… they are perfect every time – check out black beans here. So then it was to figure out to make the greens.

For this recipe we prefer Great Northern Beans, but you can use cannellini beans as well. We buy them dried and in bulk – always give them quick pick over to be sure you don’t have any stones. Then a quick rinse and into the pot they go with a little salt and kelp granules! Easy Peasy! They cook for about an hour and 15 minutes. You want them to be almost tender and then into the pot, add the spices and kale!

Kelp Granules?

This is our secret ingredient. LOL! The kelp granules help to penetrate the skin of the bean which allows the insides of the beans to cook producing a super creamy and tender bean. This method works for any beans – we’ve tried chickpeas, black beans, and now white beans. Yummy! And no, you can’t taste the kelp – which is a thumbs up from me!

One Pot Beans and Greens

We opted for a one pan method and we pretty much nailed it. Creamy beans, tender and flavorful kale, garlicky, a bit of spice thanks to the addition of a few red pepper flakes – you could totally add more to kick it up a notch. But if you follow us, you know I am a wimp!

After adding the spices (fresh garlic, fennel, red pepper flakes, and nutritional yeast) we cooked the kale until tender, about fifteen minutes. And then it was time to eat.

Prefer to watch me cook?

One Pot Beans and Greens

Vegan Beans and Greens

Vegan Beans and Greens

Yield: 4

Creamy white beans alongside tender kale are the perfect cozy comfort food. We omitted the oil, but not the flavor. This recipe is sure to be on your weekly meal prep plan! Serve it with your favorite starch!

Ingredients

  • 1/2 pound Dried Great Northern Beans
  • 7 cups water
  • 1/2 teaspoon table salt
  • 1/16 teaspoon kelp granules (or a pinch)
  • 5-6 cloves garlic, minced, optional
  • 1/2 teaspoon cracked fennel seeds, optional (you can crack using the back of a spoon on a plate or mortar and pestle)
  • pinch red pepper flakes, optional
  • 1 teaspoon nutrional yeast, optional
  • 1 bunch washed and destemmed kale

Instructions

  1. Pick over your beans checking for any stones and rinse well
  2. And to large pot with 7 cups of water, salt, and kelp granules
  3. Bring beans to a boil, reduce heat, cover, and simmer for an hour and 15 minutes (until beans are almost tender)
  4. Add spices and kale. Cook for another 15 minutes or until kale and beans are tender
  5. Salt to taste. Serve with favorite starch and nutritional yeast or vegan parmesan.
Nutrition Information:
Yield: 4 Serving Size: 1 grams
Amount Per Serving: Unsaturated Fat: 0g

One (pot) and Done

We hope this easy fall-inspired meal sends you hopping and skipping to the nearest farmers market to snag some kale. You gotta admit, cooking the perfect Italian-inspired beans and greens dish sounds like the perfect way to spend a Sunday, with football in the background, no?

Until next time, eat more plants & live VegInspired!

XO,

Kathy