How to cook beans

If you found yourself on this page, you are about to learn the best way to cook beans that children and also adults would love to eat. Before that, please go through my little story.

When I was growing up, I never liked beans. To me, it was not yummy, and I avoided it as much as I could. When I later stayed with my uncle, my auntie often cooked beans, but I still found it unpleasant. Because I already had the idea in my head that beans were not delicious, I continued to dislike them

Years later, after I got married, I had to cook beans for my children. Even then, I didn’t enjoy the process, and I felt the food was still not good enough.

One day, I started thinking on ways to make beans taste better. After trying different methods, I finally discovered a way to prepare beans that turned out soft, yummy, and delicious. To my surprise, my children began to love it and even asked me to cook beans up to three times times in a week.

why you should cook beans for children

Beans are packed with protein that helps build strong muscles and fiber that aids in food digestion. Beans are also source of iron, which helps to fight tiredness.

For children who are still growing, beans provide constant energy for their daily activities.

Ingredients you need to cook beans

• 3 cups of  dried beans(brown beans, iron beans or potasko)
• 2 medium ripe plantains (peeled and sliced)
• 1 medium onion, chopped
• 4 tablespoons palm oil
• 2 seasoning  cubes
• salt to taste
• 1 teaspoon ground pepper
• 10 leaves of scent leaves(nchawu)
• Vegetable oil for frying plantain
• 5-6 cups clean water (you can add more if needed)

Steps on how to cook beans

Now let’s look at the steps on how to cook beans.

Step 1: Sort and Rinse.

• Spread the beans on a tray and remove any dirt or stones.
• Rinse thoroughly.
• Step 2: Parboil the beans

An important aspect of cooking the beans that children would love is to parboil it.

• Get a neat pot, add water and put on fire to boil.
• Add the beans and allow to boil for 10 minutes.
• Bring down the beans from fire and sieve out the water.
• Wash the beans again with clean water.
• Step 3: Cook the beans until soft.
• Add fresh water to the pot and allow to boil.
• pour the beans in the boiling water.
• Bring to boil, add salt then reduce heat to low and simmer until the beans are soft( about 30 – 40 minutes)

STEP 3: prepare the sauce

• In a separate pan, heat the oil.
• Add chopped onions, grounded or sliced pepper, seasoning cube and fry for 1 minute.

step 4: combine and flavor

• pour the sauce into the pot of soft beans.
• Add the scent leaves(nchanwu)
• Stir well and allow everything to simmer together for 5 minutes.

Step 5: fry your plantain

• Get your frying pan.
• Add vegetable oil and allow to heat.
• put a little salt in the plantain and put in the heated vegetable oil.
• Fry until golden brown.

Step 6: serve

• Taste and adjust seasoning if needed.
• serve with pap or enjoy on its own.

Now you know how to cook beans from start to finish. By parboiling and seasoning them, the right way, you will always get soft and tasty beans. Try these steps at home and enjoy beans as part of your favorite meals.