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...

Black Eyed Pea and Carrot Salad with Spring Mint
Omnivore Other Legumes Salads Snacks & Appetizers Vegetarian
When we think of Black Eyed Peas, we generally think of stews and pork products, so it was fun to experiment with them in a fresh vegetable and herb salad. Black Eyed Peas, especially our new-crop peas, can overcook quickly, so keep an eye on the pot if you are cooking them...

Roasted Cabbage with Beans and Mushrooms
Dark Beans Main Dishes Omnivore Vegan Vegetarian
Allison Robicelli is a very provocative food writer and when she's not making me laugh on Twitter, she's offering solid advice for things like cabbage. This is her technique for cabbage wedges; I think they're an ideal buddy for a bowl of perfectly cooked heirloom beans. 1 pound whole white...

Runner Bean Salad with Radishes and Pomegranate
Dark Beans Omnivore Salads Vegan Vegetarian
Runner beans make a welcome component in a salad because they are thick-skinned and firm, but with a creamy interior. You can prepare all the components of this salad in advance, but wait until just before serving to combine everything, so all the ingredients stay crisp and fresh. ½ bunch fresh cilantro...

Black Eyed Pea, Corn, and Tomato Salad
Omnivore Other Legumes Side Dishes Snacks & Appetizers Vegetarian
We’ve heard from many customers that their favorite way to enjoy Black Eyed Peas is in “Texas Caviar” or “Cowboy Caviar.” After reading endless recipes calling for canned Black Eyed Peas, canned corn, canned chiles, canned tomatoes, and jarred Italian dressing, we were skeptical about this infamous dish. This version we ended up...

Moros y Cristianos (Black Beans and Rice)
Dark Beans Main Dishes Omnivore
Nowadays, modern cooks prepare the rice and beans together, but in the traditional Cuban manner, the rice and beans are cooked separately and the Moors (beans) don’t encounter the Christians (rice) until they meet on your plate. Both methods are great, though we prefer the sharper, more distinct flavors the...

Huevos Rancheros Divorciados
Breakfasts Dark Beans Medium Beans Omnivore Vegetarian
Melisa in our retail department made refried beans one day with our Santa Maria Pinquito beans. We had never tried refritos with the Pinquitos and it blew everyone away! Melisa offered to come up with a recipe featuring them. She couldn’t decide whether to do a green or a red salsa, so...

Nut-Dusted Beans and Sauteed Greens in Bean Broth
Main Dishes Medium Beans Omnivore soups Soups & Stews Vegan Vegetarian
A big bowl of sauteed greens and heirloom beans always makes me happy. One lazy Sunday l used Italian green chard and King City Pinks, and something possessed me to add a handful of dust from the bottom of a bowl of mixed nuts. It was terrific. Who knew? —Steve 1 bunch chard ¼ cup extra-virgin olive oil...

Ribollita (Italian Bread Soup)
Italian Medium Beans Omnivore soups Soups & Stews Vegetarian White Beans
This is our go-to recipe for ribollita, shared with us by Peter Miller, author of Lunch at the Shop: The Art and Practice of the Midday Meal and How to Wash the Dishes. He also runs a famous bookstore in Seattle dedicated to architecture and design. Peter tells us, “Learn...

Ayocotes with Nopales and Fiery Salsa
Dark Beans Main Dishes Omnivore Salads Vegetarian
Nopales are prickly-pear cactus paddles that you can find in most Mexican markets and some supermarkets. You can often buy them precleaned, but if you need to do it yourself, here are some tips. 1 to 2 cups cleaned, cubed nopales (cactus paddles) ¼ of a white onion, chopped 3...

Broccoli Rabe and White Bean Soup with Poached Eggs
Gluten-Free Omnivore soups Soups & Stews Vegetarian White Beans
2 tablespoons olive oil 1/2 of an onion, chopped 2 garlic cloves, minced Salt and freshly ground pepper 1/2 bunch broccoli rabe (about 1/2 pound), trimmed and coarsely chopped 1 cup cooked Rancho Gordo heirloom white beans, such as Alubia Blanca or Marcella, with bean broth 2 eggs 1 tablespoon white vinegar Serves...

Arugula and Bean Salad with Pumpkin Seeds
Gluten-Free Salads Side Dishes Vegetarian White Beans
4 cups wild arugula 2 cups drained cooked Rancho Gordo white beans, such as Ayocote Blanco, Cassoulet or Royal Corona beans 1 teaspoon Rancho Gordo Oregano Indio Olive oil Rancho Gordo Pineapple Vinegar (or other mild vinegar) Salt and freshly ground black pepper ½ cup pumpkin seeds, toasted Serve 2 to...

Bludso's BBQ Red Beans and Rice
Dark Beans Main Dishes Omnivore
Our staff test kitchen tried a new version of Red Beans and Rice from the recent book, Bludso's BBQ Cookbook (Ten Speed Press, 2022). They'd made it with our Domingo Rojo beans and author Kevin Bludso's recipe. I am always happy to try a bean dish but I knew...