Find out how to prepare tender and tasty Great Northern Beans the right way.
No matter the occasion, great northern beans can be a wonderful complement to any meal. The key is knowing how to prepare them the right way. Great northern beans are well known for their tenderness, thin skin, and subtle taste. These qualities make them good in a soup or chili, or as a side dish. They are among the most versatile types of beans and always seem to add something unique to a meal.
The best way to get the most out of great northern beans is to cook them alongside a few aromatics to enhance the flavor. This recipe uses onion, garlic, bay leaves, and vegetable broth, and the beans absorb these flavors easily due to their thin skin.
Are Great Northern Beans Healthy?
Great northern beans have a high fiber content, so they may aid in digestion and have been shown to regulate blood sugar and cholesterol. This recipe also has a good dose of protein, potassium, and iron. The one downside to this recipe health-wise is a high level of sodium. However, using low-sodium broth can help to offset that.
Add Anything You Want
As mentioned, great northern beans are excellent at absorbing flavor. This means you can add almost anything you want beyond the ingredients in the recipe to influence the taste of the beans. For instance, you can add any herbs or seasonings you like, although I suggest red pepper flakes if you want to give these beans a spicy kick. If you don’t mind meat, adding smoked ham to a pot of great northern beans will produce a rich, smoky flavor. One more trick to consider is adding a little vinegar or tomatoes to great northern beans once they’re done cooking. These acidic ingredients give the whole pot a bright lift.
How to make ahead and store
Leftover beans should be allowed to cool and then be stored in an airtight container. In the fridge, the beans should stay good for up to 4 days and can be easily reheated on the stove. You can also freeze them for up to 6 months in an airtight container.
Serving Suggestions
Great northern beans can serve as an excellent side dish for a variety of meals. I’ve used them to complement both a Buddha Bowl and a Mediterranean Bowl, although these beans would go well with any grain bowl. It’s also fun to use these beans in other recipes. For example, I have put great northern beans in the Crock-Pot while making White Chicken Chili. The flavor of the beans is also good for Minestrone Soup and Crock-Pot Beef Stew.
Of course, great northern beans aren’t the only beans that are useful as a side dish. I also know good recipes for making Canned Pinto Beans and Instant Pot Pinto Beans. I’m also a big fan of this Baked Beans recipe that can complement a lot of great dishes. Finally, if you want to spice things up a little, there is nothing better for bean lovers than this amazing Frijoles Recipe.
Ingredients
- 1 pound dried great northern beans
- 4 cups vegetable broth
- 4 cups water
- 1 medium onion chopped
- 3 cloves garlic minced
- 2 bay leaves
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
- Fresh herbs for garnish such as chopped parsley or thyme
Instructions
- Rinse the dried great northern beans and soak them in a large pot of water overnight.
- Drain and rinse the soaked beans. In the same pot, add broth, water, chopped onion, minced garlic, bay leaves, salt, and pepper.
- Bring the pot to a boil, then reduce heat to a simmer. Cover and cook for about 2 hours or until the beans are tender.
- Adjust salt and pepper if needed. Serve with fresh chopped herbs as garnish.
Nutrition Info:
Nutrition information are estimates only and may vary based on the specific brands, ingredients, and portion sizes you use. This data is provided for informational purposes only.
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