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.