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.
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.
26 K 3.5/5 (2 reviews)
12 hours 20 min.
Easy
1 kg 500 g
3 IngredientsLast modified on: August 16th 2023
For 1 kg 500 g, you will need:
- 1
6 1⁄3 cups white beans - 2
6 tablespoons coarse salt - 3
1.5 teaspoon Bicarbonate of (baking) soda (optional)
Change these quantities to make:
Change measures:
Times for this recipe
Preparation: 12 hours 2 min.
Cooking: 15 min.
All in all: 12 hours 20 min.
If you start now, at , you will finish around : ?.Change start time
To finish around 7pm, you'll need to have started before: .Change end time
Step by step recipe
Stage 1 - 12 hours
Pour 6 1⁄3 cups white beans into a bowl, and cover with plenty of cold water.
Leave overnight to soften.
Leave overnight to soften.
Stage 2 - 2 min.
The next day, drain and rinse under cold water.
Stage 3 - 15 min.
Pour the beans into a large saucepan over medium heat, cover with plenty of cold water, add 6 tablespoons coarse salt and if possible 1.5 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.
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
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
| Proteins (gr) | Carbohydrates (gr) | Fats (gr) | Energy value (in k-calories) | Energy value (in k-joules) | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Whole recipe | 140 RDI=50 % | 360 RDI=30 % | 6 RDI=1 % | 2,040 RDI=100 % | 8,540 RDI: 100 % |
| Per 100 g | 8 RDI=3 % | 20 RDI=2 % | 0 | 130 RDI=6 % | 540 RDI: 6 % |
How much will it cost?
- For 1 kg 500 g : 7.75 €
Change currency: 
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 beans
Like these other recipes: Sausages with baked beans, French style, Douarnenez salad, Cassoulet-style shepherd's pie., Duo of slow-cooked pork, Cassoulet, ... See them all 13
Coarse salt
Like these other recipes: Mackerel rillettes, Foie gras cured in salt, Pickled gherkins, Fish in a salt crust, French bean salad with vinaigrette , ... See them all 16
Other recipes you may also like
Breton apple and rhubarb tart
This rhubarb and apple tart is given a Breton twist with a base of traditional, butter-rich, sablé biscuit. This is topped with an apple "crémeux" filling. The finishing touch is a layer of rhubarb, cut on the diagonal and oven-poached in a syrup of its own juice.December 30th 201951 K5 1 hour 45 min.
Mackerel rillettes
This recipe for mackerel rillettes (or potted mackerel) starts with poaching the fish. The flesh is then taken off the bones and forked into a seasoned mixture of butter, mustard, cream and lemon juice. In France this is traditionally eaten as an aperitif snack, served on small slices of toast.June 19th 201961 K 1 hour
How to freeze plums
When fruit is in season, there's sometimes a glut - far more than we can use at once. Freezing is a good solution, but plums and other stone fruit should not be frozen whole; the fruit will be unappetizing when thawed. Here's a simple method for successful freezing.September 4th 2019127 K3.7 12 hours 40 min.
Diplomat cream
Diplomat cream or "crème Madame" (a much prettier name) is one of many creams in French pâtisserie based on confectioner's custard. The classic confectioner's custard (crème pâtissière, or french pastry cream) has gelatin added while hot, then whipped cream is folded in when cold. This gives a...October 30th 201975 K 1 hour 50 min.
Risotto-style celeriac
In this recipe, the celeriac is cooked rather like for a risotto: diced small, softened in olive oil with onion, then cooked in chicken stock. The dish is finished with cream and maybe a little cancoillotte (or other creamy cheese). It is delicious on its own or to accompany meat.December 30th 201996 K 50 min.
News list of cooking-ez.com
Sign up to receive the latest recipes (next batch due to be sent on 2025-08-17)
Note: We'll never share your e-mail address with anyone else.
Post a comment or question
Follow this recipe
If you are interested in this recipe, you can "follow" it, by entering your email address here. You will then receive a notification immediately each time the recipe is modified or a new comment is added. Please note that you will need to confirm this following.
Note: We'll never share your e-mail address with anyone else.
Alternatively: you can subscribe to the mailing list of cooling-ez.com , you will receive a e-mail for each new recipe published on the site.