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| Q. Can
I make my own dehydrated beans? |
| Nancy S. |
| Good question and idea, but
unfortunately not doable in the home kitchen, at least, not in any way I
can figure out. Taste Adventure does not merely grind dry beans. They
cook them first, then dehydrate them, then flake
them (not grind) in very thin slices. It is these three processes
combined which makes them instant. Grinding uncooked beans would make a
sort of bean flour, which would still need cooking to be edible.
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For any of you who don't know the excellent
product referred to in Passionate Vegetarian, these instant bean
flakes (you can get either pinto or black) are one of the
all-time great fast foods: healthful, vegetarian, and
totally delicious. The ingredients are two: flaked dehydrate
black beans and salt. Pour hot water on 'em, and in about five
minutes you have the most luscious, creamy beans, of a soft,
thick mashed potato texture (like refried beans). They are also
beyond good sprinkled into many types of soups, vegetable and
/or tomato to name a few. A good handful of the beans melt
in, thicken the soup slightly, and add a pleasing body, making
it oh so tasty and a bit more substantial.
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| I have discovered from reader mail that the Taste Adventure brand is
not as widely available as it ought to be. You can order it online from
www.tasteadventure.com . I
highly recommend doing so (and no, I do not own stock in the company).
Several readers have gone ahead and taken the plunge, and written me
that they were extremely happy with the results, as well as the new
recipes the beans made possible for them to add to their repertoire, and
in record time. |
Although Fantastic Foods and a few others
also make instant bean mixes, I avoid them --- they come
pre-seasoned. Besides being not all wild about the seasonings'
taste (though once I got some by mistake and added them to a pot
of chili --- not bad) , they are also not nearly as
versatile for general use. The beans-and-salt only Taste
Adventure instant beans find their way with equal ease into
Italian, French, Mexican, Indian and Middle Eastern dishes.
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