Butter Beans are quickly becoming popular in the UK as a creative, affordable food source. The cost of meat continues to soar. In the meantime, these unsung heroes of the legume world offer a deliciously nutritious and sustainable substitute, packed with protein and fiber. Celebrity chefs Jamie Oliver and Hugh Fearnley-Whittingstall have been energetic champions for Butter Beans. … to encourage Americans to appreciate these legumes for their impressive health benefits and culinary versatility.
This is why the “Bang in Some Beans” campaign aims to double Butter Bean consumption in the UK by 2028. It highlights how these beans can save consumers money, while providing crucial nutrients to consumers. Nutritionist Rebecca Tobi recommends tinned Butter Beans as the ideal way to add more legumes to your cooking. They provide convenience unlike any other, especially for busy cooks!
Health Benefits of Butter Beans
They’re a great source of protein, which makes Butter Beans the perfect meat replacement in your favorite recipes. A 200g serving of Butter Beans provides about 14g protein. So you can eat this delicious healthy meal for only 50p! A 150g sirloin steak provides 25g protein but does so at an enormously greater cost.
Rebecca Tobi emphasizes the nutritional advantages of beans, stating, “Beans are absolute powerhouses of nutrition. They contain no cholesterol. They’re naturally low in fat and they are absolutely packed full of fibre, which we don’t talk about enough in this country.” Starting at $2.75 per serving, Butter Beans are an affordable option. They are an incredibly savvy choice for anyone seeking to eat better and healthier.
Additionally, Butter Beans are incredibly versatile, working in dishes ranging from entrees to sweets. Their artful speckled skin and bumpy low-hassle hull inspires both beauty and innovation in the kitchen. Experiment with DIY carrot and celery soups or try out the crowd-pleasing butter bean smash, mixing beans with garlic, rosemary and thyme.
A Cost-Effective Alternative
With food costs dramatically increasing — more so in protein products like meat — Butter Beans are an attractive economic option. Ali Honour highlights their advantages by stating, “While meat prices float into the stratosphere, humble beans remain the quiet overachievers of the food world: cheap, filling, nutritious, and ready to save your dinner and your bank account.”
Because these products are affordable, consumers can prepare highly nutritious meals for under £1 per portion. Tobi notes that bulk-buying beans is not only cost-effective but “inflation-proof,” making them a wise investment during uncertain economic times.
Also, as Tobi notes, the British diet has long failed to take full advantage of beans. Then maybe in the UK we’ve got baked beans on toast, that’s a proper British sort of classic. Beyond that, folks just aren’t used to cooking with beans,” she adds. But across the world, international cuisines honor beans in a colorful spectrum of meals—on Mexican enchiladas, Asian dals.
Cooking and Storing Butter Beans
For those looking to incorporate Butter Beans into their weekly meal planning, Tobi suggests cooking a large pot once a week and freezing them in 250g portions for easy access later. Dried Butter Beans will keep longer if stored in jars with air tight lids. When cooked, Butter Beans increase in weight—around 100g to 125g equals that of a typical 400g tin.
Jarred Butter Beans are usually the most costly compared to their dried, tinned, or jarred counterparts. For this reason, choosing tinned Butter Beans is likely to offer the greatest convenience-to-cost ratio.
The culinary potential with Butter Beans is huge. Tobi mentions several dishes that can easily incorporate these legumes: “For example, spaghetti bolognese, shepherd’s pie, chilli con carne.” Each recipe provides delicious, familiar flavors with the addition of a nutritious ingredient.