How to prepare white beans


How to prepare white beans
When you want to use white beans in a recipe, most of the time you use dried beans.

They're handy, but they're hard and not easy to use, but don't worry, in this recipe you'll see how to prepare and cook them.
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Last modified on: August 16th 2023

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For 1 kg, you will need:
  • 1 white haricot beans 1 litre white haricot beans
  • 2 coarse salt 4 tablespoons coarse salt
  • 3 Bicarbonate of (baking) soda 1 teaspoon Bicarbonate of (baking) soda (optional)

Change these quantities to make: 250 g 500 g 1 kg 1 kg 500 g
How long does it take?
Time required for this recipe:
PreparationCookingStart to finish
12 hours 2 min.15 min.12 hours 17 min.
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Step by step recipe


Stage 1 - 12 hours
How to prepare white beans
Pour 1 litre white haricot beans into a bowl, and cover with plenty of cold water.

Leave overnight to soften.

Stage 2 - 2 min.
How to prepare white beans
The next day, drain and rinse under cold water.

Stage 3 - 15 min.
How to prepare white beans
Pour the beans into a large saucepan over medium heat, cover with plenty of cold water, add 4 tablespoons coarse salt and if possible 1 teaspoon Bicarbonate of (baking) soda and bring to the boil.
At first, a foam may form on the surface - this is normal - skim off the foam and discard.

Continue cooking, covered, until the beans are tender, then turn off the heat.

Stage 4
How to prepare white beans
Drain the beans, they are ready to be used in your recipe.
Remarks
You'll notice that the beans take quite a long time to cook, but if you add a little baking soda in step 3, which tenderizes the bean skin, the cooking time is much reduced.
Keeping
Several days in the fridge, protected by cling film.
Source
Home made.
Nutritional information
Whole recipe
Energetic valueProteins CarbohydratesFats
1,360 Kcal or 5,694 Kj90 gr240 gr4 gr
68 %35 %23 %1 %
Per 100 g
Energetic valueProteins CarbohydratesFats
128 Kcal or 536 Kj8 gr23 gr< 1 gr
6 %3 %2 %<1 %
% are calculated relative to a Recommended Dietary Intake or RDI of 2000 k-calories or 8400 k-joules by day for a woman (change to a man).
How much will it cost?
  • For 1 kg : 4.41 £

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Note: Be careful, these prices are only an estimate, you can consult the table of prices by ingredients used for this estimate.
This recipe uses (among others)
White haricot beansWhite haricot beans: You can check-out other recipes which use it, like for example: White bean gratin "à l'italienne", Warm white bean salad with smoked trout, Warm haricot bean salad, Cornouaillaise salad, Paimpol salad, ... All
Coarse saltCoarse salt: You can get more informations, or check-out other recipes which use it, for example: How to cook pasta properly, Pickled gherkins, Preserved lemons, How to prepare spinach, Mackerel rillettes, ... All
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