Lentils, Beans and Pulses ~ Food Pairing

Generally speaking beans and lentils go well with garlic, pork products – particularly fatty ones, bacon fat, olive oil, smoky tastes such as chipotle and smoked paprika, spices especially cumin and chilli.

Butter Beans aka Lima Beans – ham, bacon, pork, onions, leeks, bay leaves, parsley,

Cannellini Beans – parsley, sage, tarragon and thyme.

Black Beans – chillies, especially smoky chipotle, coriander (both fresh and dried), cumin, garlic, lime, red pepper, onions – especially red onions, corn, avocado and sour cream,

Kidney beans – cumin, chilli, lemon or lime, perhaps, fresh coriander, chilli and Latin American flavours.

Lentils – onions, garlic, cumin, ginger and curry spices.

Split Peas aka Dal – ham, bacon, onions and curry spices.

Chickpeas aka Garbanzo – Middle Eastern flavours such as cumin, Tahini, yogurt and mint and chorizo, spinach, garlic and olive oil.