Grilled Chinese Long Green Beans

The produce section at Jungle Jim’s in Cincinnati is fantastic. The last time we were there I noticed they had Chinese long green beans, so I picked up a pound. I’ve seen them used on cooking shows on TV, but I’ve never cooked them. I figured I’d try out some grilled Chinese long green beans. And I’m glad I did!

Grilled Chinese Long Green Beans

Add Some Contrast

I decided to make these grilled Chinese long green beans along with some sliced radishes and minced garlic. I liked the slight heat from the radishes. And of course garlic and green beans were made for each other. Grilling adds that extra flavor you’re just not going to get on the stovetop.

These beans have great green bean flavor that you are used to. Plus they’re fun to look at. They are over a foot long!

(I noticed yesterday that our local grocery store is now carrying Chinese long green beans! Woo hoo!)

Also try my barbecue green beans.

Grilled Chinese Long Green Beans
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4 from 1 vote

Grilled Chinese Long Green Beans

Grilling these beans until they are a little caramelized really brings out the flavor!
Course Side
Cuisine American
Keyword beans, grilled
Prep Time 5 minutes
Cook Time 15 minutes
Total Time 20 minutes
Servings 4
Calories 38kcal
Author Mike

Equipment

Ingredients

  • 1 pound Chinese long green beans
  • 6 radishes halved
  • 2 cloves garlic minced
  • Olive oil

Instructions

  • Preheat grill to medium high.
  • Place beans, radishes and garlic in a large bowl.
  • Drizzle with oil and toss to combine.
  • Place vegetable mixture onto the grill.
  • Grill until starting to char, then flip and continue grilling until lightly charred and the beans are tender.

Notes

I like to shave or grate a little Parmesan over the tops of the beans before serving.

Nutrition

Calories: 38kcal | Carbohydrates: 9g | Protein: 2g | Fat: 1g | Saturated Fat: 1g | Sodium: 9mg | Potassium: 259mg | Fiber: 3g | Sugar: 4g | Vitamin A: 783IU | Vitamin C: 15mg | Calcium: 46mg | Iron: 1mg

Nutritional values are approximate.

Franks and Beans

Franks and beans were one of my favorites as a kid, though I called them hot dogs and not franks. I guess you could serve these as a side dish…. but, I wouldn’t. And some people call them beans and franks, but I think the hot dogs should get top billing!

Franks and Beans

Save The Hot Dogs!

I have two rules about this dish: first, you can’t have too many hot dogs, and second, save eating most of the hot dogs for last. Sad is the day when you get to the bottom of the bowl and all you have left are beans! I’ve been eating my franks and beans this way since I was a little kid. No way would I eat the hot dogs first.

Also make up a batch of my fire-eater campfire beans!

Franks and Beans
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4 from 1 vote

Franks and Beans

I have two rules about this dish: first, you can’t have too many hot dogs, and second, save eating most of the hot dogs for last.
Course Side
Cuisine American
Keyword beans, hot dogs
Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 2 hours
Total Time 2 hours 10 minutes
Servings 8
Calories 386kcal
Author Mike

Ingredients

Instructions

  • Preheat oven to 300 F.
  • Spray an 8″ x 8″ baking dish with non-stick spray.
  • Combine all but the hot dogs in a bowl. Pour into the baking dish.
  • Bake for 1 1/2 hours.
  • Add in the hot dogs.
  • Bake another 30 minutes.

Notes

You can substitute smoked sausage for the hot dogs.

Nutrition

Calories: 386kcal | Carbohydrates: 64g | Protein: 15g | Fat: 10g | Saturated Fat: 4g | Cholesterol: 34mg | Sodium: 1295mg | Potassium: 904mg | Fiber: 11g | Sugar: 15g | Vitamin A: 79IU | Vitamin C: 5mg | Calcium: 146mg | Iron: 5mg

Nutritional values are approximate.

Fire-Eater Campfire Beans

Who doesn’t love a big pot of beans? Even on a hot summer day, give me some spicy beans and cornbread and I’m set. These fire-eater campfire beans combine a simple, straight-forward bean recipe with the kick from Steven Raichlen’s fire-eater rub. I started out using the rub just on chicken (and mainly chicken wings, for a seriously good hot wing!), but now I find myself using it in a lot of dishes.

Fire-Eater Campfire Beans

Add Meat And Call It Dinner

If you have a few spare chunks of smoked pulled pork or brisket, toss them in the pot with these Fire-Eater Campfire beans. They’ll add even more great smoky flavor, plus also a nice texture. Heck, it’s a meal-in-a-bowl! I’ve also enjoyed a big bowl of these beans with a grilled hot dog, sliced, thrown in. Smoked sausage is great too. It makes for a great quick lunch!

I like to use my good ole trusty Dutch oven to make these beans and pretty much darned near anything like it on my stovetop. It’s nice and big and sturdy. That extra weight helps it maintain and distribute heat perfectly. As an added bonus, it’s actually pretty easy to clean up too!

Also try my super-easy doctored baked beans!

Fire-Eater Campfire Beans
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5 from 1 vote

Fire-Eater Campfire Beans

These fire-eater campfire beans combine a simple, straight-forward bean recipe with a nice kick.
Course Side
Cuisine American
Keyword beans, spicy
Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 4 hours 30 minutes
Total Time 4 hours 40 minutes
Servings 12
Calories 267kcal
Author Mike

Equipment

Ingredients

Instructions

  • Check beans for any rocks or bad beans. Rinse well.
  • Transfer beans to a large pot and cover with water by 2 inches.
  • Add the ham hock and cover.
  • Bring to a boil, then reduce to a simmer and simmer for 2 hours. Add more water as needed.
  • Add the garlic, peppers, and onion.
  • Cover again and cook another hour or two. The beans should be starting to soften.
  • Add the rub.
  • Cover and cook another 20-30 minutes or until the beans are tender. The liquid should be nice and thick.
  • Serve hot.

Notes

Best served with cornbread.

Nutrition

Calories: 267kcal | Carbohydrates: 43g | Protein: 17g | Fat: 3g | Saturated Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 12mg | Sodium: 38mg | Potassium: 984mg | Fiber: 10g | Sugar: 4g | Vitamin A: 621IU | Vitamin C: 30mg | Calcium: 73mg | Iron: 4mg

Nutritional values are approximate.

Doctored Baked Beans

There’s nothing wrong with a can of baked beans. Except I find them to be rather boring.  So, I took a recipe from Amy’s Cooking Adventures and bam! Great doctored baked beans from a can! This little bowl of happiness is much like the classic baked beans you might find at a picnic. And that’s ok. There’s nothing boring about it. It’s easy and great for a get-together.

Doctored Baked Beans

I always put jalapeno in my doctored baked beans. That might not be the best idea for your household. Substitute green bell pepper or even poblano if you want great flavor without the heat.

Also try my super-easy franks and beans.

Doctored Baked Beans
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4 from 1 vote

Doctored Baked Beans

There’s nothing wrong with a can of baked beans. Except I find them to be rather boring.  So, I took a recipe from Amy’s Cooking Adventures and bam! Great doctored baked beans from a can!
Course Side
Cuisine American
Keyword baked beans
Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 25 minutes
Total Time 35 minutes
Servings 4
Calories 368kcal

Equipment

Ingredients

Instructions

  • Heat a skillet over high heat and cook the bacon until done.
  • Remove to a paper towel-lined plate.
  • Reduce the heat to medium high.
  • Remove all but 1 tablespoon of the bacon drippings.
  • Add the onion and jalapeno and saute until starting to soften.
  • Add the beans, ketchup and mustard.
  • Crumble in the bacon and stir.
  • Reduce heat to medium-low and cook for 20 minutes.

Notes

Store leftovers in the fridge. Warm over medium heat and stir before serving.

Nutrition

Calories: 368kcal | Carbohydrates: 44g | Protein: 15g | Fat: 17g | Saturated Fat: 6g | Trans Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 36mg | Sodium: 1194mg | Potassium: 741mg | Fiber: 12g | Sugar: 2g | Vitamin A: 94IU | Vitamin C: 10mg | Calcium: 116mg | Iron: 4mg

Nutritional values are approximate.

Dinosaur-Style BBQ Beans

Dinosaur Bar-B-Que is a small chain of BBQ restaurants in the northeast, and now, also in Chicago. If these dinosaur-style BBQ beans are any indication of how good their food is, it’s a place well worth visiting. These beans are crazy good, thanks mostly to the barbecue sauce and my favorite, crumbled cooked Italian sausage.

Dinosaur-Style BBQ Beans

Italian Sausage Adds So Much Flavor

I recently started adding Italian sausage to my chili recipes. The Italian sausage adds a fantastic flavor and texture to the chili, just like it does to these dinosaur-style BBQ beans. You can use spicy sausage to kick things up even more. Of course, you can also add leftover chopped, cubed shredded pulled pork or smoked brisket (yum!).

Dinosaur-Style BBQ Beans
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4 from 1 vote

Dinosaur-Style BBQ Beans

These beans are crazy good, thanks mostly to the barbecue sauce and my favorite, crumbled cooked Italian sausage.
Course Side
Cuisine American
Keyword baked beans
Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 25 minutes
Total Time 40 minutes
Servings 13
Calories 164kcal

Equipment

Ingredients

Instructions

  • Heat olive oil in a large saucepan over medium-high heat.
  • Add the onion and bell pepper along with a pinch each of salt and pepper.
  • Cook until soft.
  • Add the garlic and cook for another minute.
  • Crumble the sausage into the pan and cook until done.
  • Drain any excess fat.
  • Add the beans and stir.
  • Reduce heat to low.
  • Add remaining ingredients.
  • Stir and simmer for 5 minutes.

Notes

Store leftovers in the fridge. Warm over medium heat and stir before serving.

Nutrition

Calories: 164kcal | Carbohydrates: 10g | Protein: 5g | Fat: 11g | Saturated Fat: 4g | Cholesterol: 27mg | Sodium: 462mg | Potassium: 190mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 8g | Vitamin A: 152IU | Vitamin C: 9mg | Calcium: 22mg | Iron: 1mg

Nutritional values are approximate.

Deep-Fried Chickpeas

Roasted chickpeas just won’t stay crunchy for long. As they cool they get soft and mushy. Ewwwww! The only way to get really crunchy, really great chickpeas is to deep-fry them. Then hit them with your favorite seasonings. Kosher or sea salt and freshly ground black pepper are perfect. You don’t have to go crazy with them, you can keep them simple. Then devour.

Deep-Fried Chickpeas

Make Extra. They’ll Be Gone In No Time

I suggest you double the recipe when making these deep-fried chickpeas as you’ll eat half of them while you are finishing cooking the other half. They’ll stay crunchy longer than roasted peas, but they will get softer as time goes on. You won’t have to worry about that because they won’t last that long.

If I’m cooking for a crowd, I’ll break out my big deep fryer. But, if it’s just the two of us, I’ll fire up my Fry Daddy fryer. It’s the perfect size for both of us. It fries everything perfectly. And as an added bonus, it doesn’t use a lot of oil, which saves me money.

I get out my big deep fryer when it’s time to fry a large batch of food. It comes to temperature quickly and it maintains that temperature perfectly. It has a built-in oil filter and storage unit so I can re-use the oil several times.

Also try my Kale chips.

Deep-Fried Chickpeas
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5 from 1 vote

Deep-Fried Chickpeas

The only way to get really crunchy, really great chickpeas is to deep-fry them. Then hit them with your favorite seasonings. 
Course Appetizer
Cuisine American
Keyword chickpeas, deep-fried
Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 15 minutes
Total Time 30 minutes
Servings 4 servings
Calories 1kcal
Author Mike

Equipment

Ingredients

Instructions

  • Empty can into a sieve.
  • Rinse and drain well.
  • Dump beans out onto a kitchen towel or a few layers of paper towels.
  • Pat beans dry. Be thorough – they need to be as dry as possible.
  • Heat 1/2″ of oil in a Dutch oven to 325 F.
  • Working in batches, SLOWLY add the beans to the hot oil. The beans will most likely splatter, especially if they aren't very dry, so keep your face and hands back as you add them to the hot oil.
  • Fry for 4-5 minutes or until golden brown.
  • Remove to a paper towel-lined plate to drain.
  • Sprinkle with seasoning while they are still hot.
  • Serve hot or cooled.

Notes

Be very careful adding the peas to the hot oil!

Nutrition

Calories: 1kcal | Carbohydrates: 1g | Protein: 1g | Fat: 1g | Sodium: 1mg | Potassium: 1mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 1g | Vitamin A: 1IU | Vitamin C: 1mg | Calcium: 1mg | Iron: 1mg

Nutritional values are approximate.

Creamy Butter Beans

I had a hard time deciding if these creamy butter beans were a side dish or as a main. We had them as a main dish, with cornbread. And we had them as a side. So… they’re both a main dish and a side dish!! And they are so creamy good! The broth is packed with flavor. These are not boring beans. Not even close.

Creamy Butter Beans

The Winter Slayer

These creamy butter beans are the ultimate comfort dish, and a welcomed change from the usual chili or big bowl of black-eyed peas that I usually turn to on a cool evening.

For a little Cajun kick to your beans, substitute chopped cooked andouille sausage for the ham.

I like to use my good ole trusty Dutch oven to make these beans and pretty much darned near anything like it on my stovetop. It’s nice and big and sturdy. That extra weight helps it maintain and distribute heat perfectly. As an added bonus, it’s actually pretty easy to clean up too!

Also try my Cuban black beans.

Creamy Butter Beans
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5 from 1 vote

Creamy Butter Beans

I had a hard time deciding if these creamy butter beans were a side dish or as a main. We had them as a main dish, with cornbread. And we had them as a side. So… they’re both a main dish and a side dish!! And they are so creamy good!
Course Main
Cuisine American
Keyword beans, creamy
Prep Time 1 day
Cook Time 3 hours
Total Time 1 day 3 hours
Servings 6 -8
Calories 854kcal

Ingredients

Instructions

  • Place beans in a large bowl and add enough water to cover them by 2″. Let soak for 24 hours. Drain.
  • Heat oil in a Dutch oven over medium heat.
  • Add the onion, celery, and carrots and saute until just starting to get tender.
  • Add the garlic and cook another 2 minutes.
  • Crumble in the dried thyme and black pepper and stir.
  • Add the ham, jowl bacon, chicken stock, bay leaves and 4 cups of water.
  • Bring to a boil then reduce to a simmer and continue simmering for an hour.
  • Add beans, butter, parsley, and Cajun seasoning and stir.
  • Bring back to a simmer and simmer for another 1 hours and 30 minutes or until the beans are done and the sauce has thickened. If the sauce gets too thick add more water or chicken stock.
  • Season with salt and serve.

Notes

These beans are even better the next day.

Nutrition

Calories: 854kcal | Carbohydrates: 57g | Protein: 63g | Fat: 41g | Saturated Fat: 18g | Trans Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 179mg | Sodium: 1237mg | Potassium: 2151mg | Fiber: 15g | Sugar: 10g | Vitamin A: 1519IU | Vitamin C: 3mg | Calcium: 120mg | Iron: 9mg

Nutritional values are approximate.

Buffalo Cowboy Caviar

My wife can attest to my (somewhat) shocking addiction to all things Buffalo wings. So, she wasn’t surprised when I served up this Buffalo Cowboy caviar. What was surprising, though, was just how much we both absolutely loved it. Beans, peas, tomatoes, cilantro, green onions, all good things. But the crunch of the corn and the smoothness of the avocado, along with spicy Buffalo wing sauce pushed this side up a few notches on the ‘love it’ scale.

Buffalo Cowboy Caviar

Surprisingly Good

For a twist, use corn-on-the-cob that has been roasted on a grill or under the broiler until lightly charred. Cut the kernels from the ears (or better, use a corn peeler!) and add to the caviar. You’ll need 3-4 good sized ears to make Buffalo Cowboy caviar.

Also try my Cowboy caviar and my Georgia caviar recipes.

Buffalo Cowboy Caviar
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4 from 1 vote

Buffalo Cowboy Caviar

Beans, peas, tomatoes, cilantro, green onions, all good things. But the crunch of the corn and the smoothness of the avocado, along with spicy Buffalo wing sauce pushed this side up a few notches on the ‘love it’ scale.
Course Side
Cuisine American
Keyword Buffalo, salad, vegetable
Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 1 hour
Total Time 1 hour 15 minutes
Servings 8 servings
Calories 294kcal

Ingredients

For the salad

  • 15 ounces black beans rinsed, drained
  • 15 ounces blackeye peas rinsed, drained
  • 11 ounces corn drained
  • 4 Roma tomatoes seeded, diced
  • 2 large avocados diced
  • 1 small red onion diced
  • 1 orange bell pepper diced
  • 1 cup green onions diced
  • ¼ cup cilantro chopped
  • 2 jalapenos seeded, diced

For the marinade

Instructions

  • Place all of the salad ingredients into a large bowl.
  • Whisk together the marinade ingredients and add to the salad. Toss to coat.
  • Refrigerate for 1 hour before serving.

Notes

The sauce is the boss here. You can substitute whatever other beans, vegetables, etc you like!

Nutrition

Calories: 294kcal | Carbohydrates: 46g | Protein: 12g | Fat: 9g | Saturated Fat: 1g | Sodium: 78mg | Potassium: 849mg | Fiber: 14g | Sugar: 11g | Vitamin A: 1128IU | Vitamin C: 41mg | Calcium: 55mg | Iron: 3mg

Nutritional values are approximate.

Best BBQ Beans on the Planet

The best? Really? Quite the bold claim saying that these are the best BBQ beans on the planet. So, being the skeptical person that I am, I figured these would be lame, middle-of-the-road, and nothing really to talk about.

Best BBQ Beans on the Planet

My Goodness, They Are The Best!

Well, I was wrong. These are the best BBQ beans on the planet and the best I’ve ever had. Now, to be fair, I’ve had some that were close seconds. But these are amazing. So are they the best on the planet? Inspired by Steven Raichlen, these are the best beans in the galaxy. Raichlen introduced me on to a world outside of just firing up some charcoal and tossing on a rubbery steak. And he gave me grill envy. I mean, really, have you seen his shows? He has the BEST toys!

Be cautious when lifting the pan of beans on and off the grill. Always support the pan on the bottom. I use oven mitts.

The only way to make these is on the grill, over indirect heat. Although you can make them in the oven, but you’d really be missing the point (and some flavor).

Also try my easy spicy grilled potatoes.

Best BBQ Beans on the Planet
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5 from 1 vote

Best BBQ Beans on the Planet

These are the best BBQ beans on the planet and the best I’ve ever had. Now, to be fair, I’ve had some that were close seconds. But these are amazing.
Course Side
Cuisine American
Keyword barbecue, BBQ, beans
Prep Time 20 minutes
Cook Time 2 hours
Total Time 2 hours 20 minutes
Servings 16
Calories 263kcal

Ingredients

Instructions

  • Set up your grill for indirect cooking.
  • Place a few chunks of mesquite over the coals.
  • Add the bacon pieces to a large skillet or Dutch oven over high heat and cook until starting to crisp. Remove bacon to a plate. Reserve 2 tablespoons of the bacon drippings (I strained the rest and refrigerated it for oiling my grill grates).
  • Place all remaining ingredients into a 9" x 13" disposable pan with 3" sides. Stir.
  • Drizzle reserved bacon drippings over the top of the beans.
  • Place pan on grill over indirect heat.
  • Cook for at least 1 hour, monitoring to see if the beans get too hot or dry out (you might have to add water).
  • Remove beans once they and the vegetables are tender.
  • Cover grill

Notes

You’ll need a 9″ x 13″ disposable pan with 3″ sides.

Nutrition

Calories: 263kcal | Carbohydrates: 35g | Protein: 5g | Fat: 12g | Saturated Fat: 4g | Trans Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 19mg | Sodium: 576mg | Potassium: 226mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 31g | Vitamin A: 378IU | Vitamin C: 21mg | Calcium: 40mg | Iron: 1mg

Nutritional values are approximate.

Beans and Weenies

These are not the beans and weenies you may have eaten as a kid. Not even close. Smoky bacon, sweet baked beans, and kickin’ jalapenos. You definitely won’t confuse them with the canned version. And you definitely won’t confuse them with the potluck version that uses lil ole chopped up hot dogs.

Beans and Weenies

Not Like The Canned Stuff

You can use any store-bought sausage in this dish. But for a really tasty version, use some fresh sausage from a local butcher. I used some great kielbasa sausage from Moody’s Butcher shop in nearby Zionsville, Indiana. The sausages definitely up’d my  game.

Also try my smoked blueberry beans and weenies.

Beans and Weenies
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4 from 1 vote

Beans and Weenies

These are not the beans and weenies you may have eaten as a kid. Not even close. Smoky bacon, sweet baked beans, and kickin’ jalapenos. You definitely won’t confuse them with the canned version
Course Main
Cuisine American
Keyword beans, hot dogs
Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 1 hour
Total Time 1 hour 15 minutes
Servings 8
Calories 412kcal

Ingredients

Instructions

  • Preheat oven to 375 F.
  • Simmer sausages in 2″ of water for 10 minutes.
  • Cut bacon into 1/2″ pieces and cook in a large saute pan until almost crisp. Remove to a paper towel-lined plate. Reserve the drippings.
  • Add sausage to saute pan and brown lightly on all sides. Remove.
  • Spray a 9″ x 13″ baking dish with non-stick spray. Add in the beans, garlic, onion, and pepper. Stir.
  • Place sausage pieces into the bean mixture, pushing them in.
  • Sprinkle top of dish with Worcestershire sauce (I used about 2 tablespoons).
  • Scatter the jalapenos, green onions and thyme over the top of the dish.
  • Spoon a little of the reserved bacon drippings around.
  • Place in oven on a rack above a baking pan (in case some drips down) and bake for 40 minutes or until bubbly hot.

Notes

You can of course make these using hot dogs instead.

Nutrition

Calories: 412kcal | Carbohydrates: 43g | Protein: 17g | Fat: 21g | Saturated Fat: 7g | Trans Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 52mg | Sodium: 1249mg | Potassium: 776mg | Fiber: 12g | Sugar: 1g | Vitamin A: 141IU | Vitamin C: 11mg | Calcium: 122mg | Iron: 4mg

Nutritional values are approximate.