Recipes
How to Cook Beans in the Rancho Gordo Manner
Featured
There is not one single method of cooking beans. At its most basic, you want to simmer the pot until the beans are soft. Soaking can speed up the process and vegetables or stock will make them more flavorful. It's really that simple. There's all kinds of fine tuning and variables, but basically, this is it. Normally on a bean cooking day (which frankly is everyday at Rancho Gordo), I put the beans to soak in the morning, after rinsing in lots of cool water and checking for small debris. I cover the beans by about an inch or so...

Ceci Piccoli and Cucumber Salad
Garbanzo Salads Vegan Vegetarian
Using cucumbers in a salad seems obvious, but they can be very wet, and after a short while, your salad might look more like a cold soup. Here, the seeds and middle part are scooped out, then the cucumbers are salted and left to drain excess liquid. You'll be surprised by the amount of liquid...

Zuppa di Farro e Fagioli (Tuscan Bean Soup with Farro)
Italian Soups Vegan Vegetarian White Beans
During the 1980s, a lot of my friends would spend their vacations in New York. They loved the big city life, especially after San Francisco, which although romantic and sophisticated is also pretty small, which means you run into the same people wherever you go. I thought it sounded like...

Pinquito Bean and Celery Salad with Lemon Dressing
For so many, a salad is mixed greens and boring raw vegetables. More and more, I love salads without any lettuce. I want crunch and texture—bean salads with celery, onions, radishes, or carrots are wonderful. There's the satisfying crunch of the vegetables and the indulgent-feeling creaminess of the beans. It's...

Marcella Beans with Green Garlic and Parsley Pistou
Italian Vegan Vegetarian White Beans
This recipe comes from our neighbors here in Napa, Stevie and Josiah of Bay Grape Wine, a specialty wine shop that makes wine fun without being inane or insulting your intelligence. They are proud Bean Club members and we appreciate them sharing this recipe with us. 1 pound uncooked Marcella beans (can also...

ZUPPA DI LENTICCHIE E FUNGHI // SOUP OF LENTILS AND MUSHROOMS
Italian Other Legumes Soups & Stews Vegan Vegetarian
This recipe from Southern Italy is prepared with a combination of dried porcini and fresh oyster or cremini mushrooms. Its earthy aroma and wonderful rich taste captures the essence of wild mushrooms just collected from the forest. Recipe from Fagioli: The Bean Cuisine of Italy by Judith Barrett. 1 ounce dried...

SMOKY CONFIT’D BEANS WITH OLIVES
Side Dishes Vegan Vegetarian White Beans
From the book Snacks for Dinner by Lukas Volger. Copyright © 2022 by Lukas Volger. Published by Harper Wave, an imprint of HarperCollins Publishers. Reprinted by permission. From Lukas' notes: These warm, creamy beans cloaked in smoky, savory olive oil are a quick centerpiece “dip” for a snacky meal. They...

Kate Hill's Garbure
(Photo: Tim Clinch) From Kate: "Consider garbure as the Gascon lagniappe, that little somethingextra that a shopkeeper gives a good customer. Garbure can be madeon its own or it can be the perfect use for leftovers after making agood and generous cassoulet. (I always seem to have a few beans...

Roasted Leek and White Bean Soup
Friend of The Bean and Rancho Gordo pal, Arnab Chaladar, helps us out with Indian-inspired bean dishes (and good whisky recommendations on his My Annoying Opinions blog), but here he goes for something simple and classic, perfect for soup season. Ingredients2 cups cooked flageolet beans (beans cooked simply with...

Sauerkraut and White Bean Soup
Gluten-Free Omnivore soups Soups & Stews Vegan Vegetarian White Beans
It’s not a bean soup or a sauerkraut soup. It’s its own thing and I can’t wait to make this again. There are many versions of this and if you aren’t using good heirloom beans, like our Royal Coronas, I would add some sausages or a ham hock. I’m not trying to be funny, but the flavor just won’t be there unless you use good heirloom beans. Similarly, if you don’t have homemade sauerkraut on hand, use a trusted brand.

VEGETARIAN CALDO TLALPEÑO
Other Legumes Soups Soups & Stews Vegan Vegetarian
½ of a white onion, minced2 chipotle chiles in adobo sauce, roughly chopped, with seeds and sauce1 cup chopped tomatoes2 garlic cloves, minced1 tablespoon extra-virgin olive oil6 cups vegetable broth (preferably homemade)1 cup cooked Rancho Gordo Garbanzo beans, drained1 cup peeled, sliced carrots2 small zucchini, slicedAvocado cubes for garnishLime wedges...

Slow Cooker Minestrone
Italian soups Soups & Stews Vegetarian White Beans
1 cup uncooked Rancho Gordo Marcella beans, picked over and rinsed1 tablespoon plus ¼ cup extra-virgin olive oil (divided use)2 garlic cloves, minced1 sprig of fresh rosemary2 tablespoons salted butter1 onion, thinly sliced2 large carrots, peeled and diced2 celery stalks, diced1 russet potato, peeled and diced½ pound green beans, trimmed...

Tanya Holland's Black-Eyed Pea Chowder
Omnivore Other Legumes Soups Soups & Stews
Tanya Holland is one of our favorite chefs and we love the fresh tweaks she gives to classic dishes. 1 pound/455 g Rancho Gordo Black-Eyed Peas, picked over2 tablespoons unsalted butter2 medium onions, finely chopped3 large garlic cloves, minced1 large jalapeño chile, seeded and minced2 medium celery ribs, diced1 medium...