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| Amy Oboussier writes, 'This Bean Chilli is a firm favourite in our house, our go-to recipe whenever we want something comforting and hearty, with as little washing up as possible. It freezes well and can be made in large batches. We’ve made this recipe on the stove, in the oven and even over the campfire, so if you don't have a slow cooker you don't have to miss out.' Watch a video of us making this recipe on our Instagram page. |
With energy prices so high we're all looking for more energy efficient ways to cook. According to uswitch slow cookers are one of the most efficient cooking appliances, using little more energy than a lightbulb. An average-sized slow cooker uses just 1.3 kWh per meal cooked. Although they're traditionally associated with long, slow cooking of meat dishes, they're also perfect for cooking our pulses* from dry.
We always cook fava beans and other pulses in the slow cooker, preferably on a sunny day when the solar panels are producing some or all of our energy. We don’t have to check up on them or worry about leaving the gas hob unattended and the even heat cooks the beans exceptionally well.
This is the simplest possible version of this recipe - you throw in all your ingredients and walk away. However, if I’ve got the time, I brown the onion, carrot and celery in a pan before adding them to the slow cooker. This gives a little more depth of flavour and a pleasing texture. To reduce cooking time by an hour or so, you can also soak the pulses overnight, but this is not essential.
(*Some beans in the Phaseolus family - kidney beans, black beans, haricot and similar - contain lectins that can make you unwell if the beans aren't properly boiled. If you're cooking these beans do make sure your slow cooker has a 10 minute high temperature phase, or soak and boil your beans before adding to the slow cooker.)
Serves 4
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This cake is pure comfort from a tin! Made with kibbled naked barley, it takes inspiration from the creamy warmth of porridge and transforms it into something richer, denser and custardy.
Caponata is a much-loved Sicilian dish of bold Mediterranean flavours, traditionally a rich, sweet-sour stew of aubergines, onions, tomatoes, capers and herbs. In this version, tender borlotti beans join the mix, adding extra substance, creamy texture and a satisfying protein boost, making it as perfect for a light main as it is for a side dish.
Lentils can sometimes blend into the background of a dish but these organic black lentils from France deserve to be the star of the show. This simple dish showcases their texture, colour and flavour.
