Please help me find a way to like beans and pulses!

EssexGirl

Thank you everyone! There's some fab ideas. I love the way other people try to disguise beans etc .
I'm going to get cooking and tasting tomorrow.

wouldbeqaulitymoneysaver

I think you have to get used to eating pulses as it treats your body as they are high fibre and tasty!, too much fat in diet means you want to eat these less. So try to reduce fat levels but IMHO adopt a Foodie mentality with good fats such as butter, cream and olive oil, avocados etc so lots of flavour. Steer body in direction of the above.
Some pulses like Butter beans like a richer sauce, so plonk with cheese, garlic, cream with nice colourful flavours, chives, parsley, roasted peppers from jar, mushrooms etc, all cooked beautifully.
Cultivating one's inner foodie !!! chef is always going to help, no matter how meagre your budget.

wouldbeqaulitymoneysaver

I will need to go Veggie for a while to accomplish this. So all veggie recipes need to be carnivore friendly and very balanced because of the amino acids in meat.Vegetarian diets are just as healthy provided properly balanced.

wouldbeqaulitymoneysaver

Also cannibalise Foodie recipe sites like Good Food Magazine, Chow, epicurious. These have solid reliable recipes that are wonderful for Vegetarians. The Gaurdian has fabulous recipes too (free!) Otto Ottolenghi, Nigel Slater etc.
Reliable recipes + good chef +great ingredients (gotten as cheaply as possible!!) = tasty dinner time.
I save recipes in my Evernote on desktop and iphone.

wouldbeqaulitymoneysaver

Pulses and Beans are delicious enough not to need disguising, once you 'get 'them you will not be able to stop yourself making Enchilladas, Corn Tortillas, curried kidneybeans , cook tin of with fresh chilli and garlic onion, or Loyd Grossman sauce, bung in microwave for 10 mins, take out frozen corn tortilla, plonk frozen thing in pre heated oven, spread with above, scatter with grated cheese. Cook for 5 mins or as needed. The addition of sour cream and fresh avocado will only add to your experience.

wouldbeqaulitymoneysaver

Collect a few really tasty Cook books. Anna Thomas Vegetarian Epicure is well regarded.
If one gets away from *worthy* cuisine, Veggie Food is a High Art and wonderful for everyone.

wouldbeqaulitymoneysaver

NB I am a beginner in Veggie Cookbooks but now I am getting some mean clues. I have some glorious recipes though.(lifelong carnivore speaking with veggie friend!)

icontinuetodream

I'm doing a vegan storecupboard challenge at the moment.... posting recipes every week -there are/will be plently of bean based meals on there.... I would post a link, but don't know how to!! But have a look...there may be something there you like

Need2bthrifty

Like the OP I am trying to acquire a taste for alternatives to meat and have introduced at least 3 veggie meals out of 7 for the weeks menu plan. I agree with the spicy bean chilli/bean casserole and tend to use the tinned beans especially the mixed bean selection rather than just using one type. Ive used various different types of sausages to accompany including standard pork, chorizo or Mmmmm Smoked sausage.

I have tried things like Shepherdless Pie (Delia), but have to say its not my favourite, I do however like her veggie Moussaka, using green/brown lentils and normally serve it with finely shredded raw cabbage or a very cripsy salad.

My favourite beans/lentil cuisine at the moment has to be Indian dishes - I find the use of spices along with crunchy fresh/salad veg are more to my liking and am eating as I type a lentil/yellow split pea Tarka Dhal recipe that I found in Sainsbugs Oct Magazine I adapted it a bit from other recipies I found on the T'internet and have added some sad looking spinach that was lurking in the salad drawer.

I also bulk out chicken casserole's with chickpeas, a bit like the spanish or moroccan dishes.

nickyhutch

Lentil Pie

Sweat 6oz chopped leeks and a clove of garlic in butter for 15 mins.

Add 6oz red lentils and 500ml hot veg stock. Simmer gently for 20 mins until the lentils are cooked and there's little liquid left.

Remove from the heat and add 2 skinned, chopped tomatoes, 1 beaten egg, a tbsp lemon juice and some dried basil (or oregano). Allow to cool slightly and use to make either a large pie or small, individual pies. I use a rich cheese pastry and always get asked for the recipe.