Always thought dried beans were too much work, but a snowstorm changed my mind

Got stuck inside for two days with just a bag of pinto beans and some spices. Figured I'd give them a real shot. Soaked them overnight, then simmered them for about two hours with an onion and some garlic powder. Ended up with a huge pot of food for maybe three bucks total. Way cheaper and better than canned. What other cheap dry goods are worth the extra time?

3 comments

3 Comments

cooper.phoenix1mo ago

My grandma always kept a big jar of red lentils in her pantry. They cook up super fast, like 20 minutes without soaking, and make a great thick soup with just some carrots and broth. I got a five pound bag for less than seven dollars last month. It feels like a real win when you make a meal from something that cheap and simple.

seth6831mo ago

Red lentils actually take closer to 10 minutes, not 20, to get mushy for soup.

nancy4751mo ago

Is the exact cooking time for red lentils something we need to argue about? They get soft pretty fast either way. It probably depends on your stove and how old the lentils are. Seems like a weird thing to correct someone over when the soup still gets made.