How This Holistic Nutritionist Makes 4 Different Meals From One Easy Ingredient
Looking for some inspiration in the kitchen? As part of the International Year of Pulses, mbg and USA Pulses are teaming up to motivate you to take the Pulse Pledge and eat pulses once a week for 10 weeks. We’ll make it easy for you by sharing delicious ways to cook with pulses that you won’t be able to resist.
The "Fab Four"
Do you find meal prepping to be daunting? Don't know what to include on your plate? My "Fab Four" formula makes it simple and easy to build a perfectly healthy and balanced meal: Aim to have protein, healthy fat, fiber, and greens on every plate—that's it. This simple structure removes the stress of guessing and googling our way through meal planning and encourages us to eat more of the foods we already love like salmon, coconut oil, hummus, and arugula instead of telling us a million things to avoid.
Pulses (dry peas, beans, lentils, and chickpeas) have become a go-to for me and my clients. With 9 grams of protein and between 6 and 10 grams of fiber per half-cup serving, pulses are an easy way to meet your daily nutritional goals. They are also great for make-ahead meals because they are extremely versatile, and one pot can last the whole week!
By simply picking one pulse variety and preparing a big batch ahead of time, you can easily use them in a variety of dishes at home to avoid takeout and stay ahead of the meal prep game. White beans are one of my favorite pulses because they're so versatile and easily take on the flavors of the dish they're in—even desserts!—making it easy to mix it up.
Here are my four favorite easy white bean dishes that are sure to up the protein and fiber in your meals and help keep you in balance.
1. Roasted Garlic "Everything" White Bean Hummus
Ingredients
- 2 cups white beans
- 1 clove garlic, minced
- ¼ cup extra-virgin olive oil
- 1 teaspoon sea salt (or to taste)
- Black pepper, to taste
- 2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice
- 3 tablespoons fresh parsley
For the topping
- 2 tablespoons dried minced onion
- 2 tablespoons toasted sesame seeds
- 1 tablespoon poppy seeds
- 1 teaspoon flaked sea salt
- ¼ teaspoon black pepper
Preparation
- In a medium-size pan, heat the garlic in 1 tablespoon of olive oil. Saute for 4 to 5 minutes, or until garlic is soft and fragrant; do not burn. Add beans to a food processor and top with olive oil and garlic from the pan. Add the salt, pepper, lemon, and remaining olive oil.
- In a small bowl, combine dried onion, sesame seeds, poppy seeds, garlic, sea salt, and black pepper. Toss to mix.
- Pulse in the fresh parsley. Serve with an extra drizzle of olive oil and "everything topping."
- Serve with veggie crudité.
2. Avocado Bean Salad (Fake Egg Salad)
Ingredients
- 1 cup white beans
- 2 avocados, peeled, pitted, and cubed
- 2 tablespoons vegan mayonnaise (optional)
- 1 cup finely chopped fresh herbs (parsley, dill, and chives)
- 2 celery stalks, finely chopped
- 1 small red onion, finely chopped, soaked for five minutes in cold water, drained, and rinsed
- Salt and pepper to taste
Preparation
- Combine the avocado, mayonnaise, herbs, celery, and red onion in a large bowl. Slowly whip in and gently smash white beans until blended. Season to taste with salt and pepper. Serve over salad or on toast.
3. White Bean Asian Lettuce Wraps
Ingredients
- 4 cups white beans
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 1 clove garlic, minced
- ⅛ teaspoon ground ginger
- 4 green onions, thinly sliced
- 1 (8-ounce) can sliced water chestnuts, drained and coarsely chopped
- 3 tablespoons hoisin sauce
- 2 tablespoons lower-sodium soy sauce (green top) or tamari
- 1 tablespoon rice vinegar
- 2 teaspoons roasted red chili paste
- ⅛ teaspoon salt
- 12 butter or iceberg lettuce leaves
Preparation
- Heat 1 tablespoon of oil in a large nonstick skillet over medium-high heat. Add beans, garlic, and ginger to the pan and cook for about 3 to 5 minutes or until the beans are warm. Add onions and chopped water chestnuts in a large bowl, stirring well, and set aside.
- Meanwhile, in a small bowl, whisk together hoisin, tamari, rice vinegar, and roasted red chili paste, and drizzle over the bean mixture. Toss to coat completely.
- Add about ¼ cup of the white bean mixture to each lettuce leaf, serve, and enjoy!
4. White Bean Greek Salad
Ingredients
- 3 cups white beans
- 2 cups halved heirloom cherry tomatoes
- 2 Persian cucumbers, chopped
- 1 red bell pepper, chopped
- 1 small red onion, finely chopped
- ½ cup sliced black olives
- 1 cup crumbled feta (optional)
For the dressing
- ½ cup olive oil
- ¼ cup lemon juice
- ⅓ cup chopped fresh parsley
- 1 teaspoon dried oregano
- ½ teaspoon sumac
- ½ teaspoon salt
- ¼ teaspoon pepper
Preparation
- In a medium bowl, whisk together dressing ingredients.
- Combine all salad ingredients in a large bowl.
- Add the dressing to the salad bowl, and stir to combine.
- Allow salad to sit for at least 10 minutes in the refrigerator for the flavors to come together.
- Serve cold.
If this sounds like a delicious challenge to you, take the Pulse Pledge and be sure to share your pulse cooking adventures with us on Instagram with #pulsepledge.