Recipe Roundup: Budget-Friendly Beans

Spicy Chickpea and Rainbow Chard Stew

Most of the time spent on this budget-friendly dinner recipe is hands-off, which is ideal when you don’t feel like cooking. This wholesome meal is loaded with plant-based protein thanks to the generous helping of canned chickpeas. To transform this recipe from a vegetarian one to a vegan one, simply omit the Greek yogurt and naan. You can sub in your favourite plant-based yogurt and serve over rice to get the same effect.

Beans Used: Chickpeas

Dietary: Vegan or Vegetarian

Suggested Farm Boy Items: Farm Boy™ Ground Turmeric, Farm Boy™ Organic Paprika, Farm Boy™ Organic Crushed Chili Peppers, Farm Boy™ Italian Tomatoes, Farm Boy™ Organic Chickpeas, Farm Boy™ Organic Coconut Milk, Farm Boy™ Organic Vegetable Broth, Farm Boy™ Organic Plain Greek Yogurt, Farm Boy™ Original Flame Baked Naan.

Turkey Chili

If you’re looking for a bean recipe to freeze in batches and enjoy later, this is the dish for you. This wholesome, healthy chili recipe uses both kidney beans and chickpeas to increase the amount of fibre and protein, helping you to feel fuller for longer. It also has a generous amount of veggies, like bell peppers, onions, tomatoes, and corn. We’ve garnished it with our Fiesta Blend Shredded Cheese, avocado, cilantro, and Natural Tortilla Chips for extra crunch and creaminess. (If you’re interested in even more chili topping ideas, visit our blog!)

Beans Used: Kidney beans, chickpeas

Dietary: Gluten-Free

Suggested Farm Boy Items: Farm Boy™ Organic Chili Powder, Farm Boy™ Organic Oregano, Farm Boy™ Organic Ground Cumin, Farm Boy™ Cayenne Pepper, Farm Boy™ No Salt Added Diced Tomatoes, Farm Boy™ Organic Tomato Paste, Farm Boy™ Organic Chicken Broth, Farm Boy™ Organic Kidney Beans, Farm Boy™ Organic Chickpeas, Farm Boy™ Organic Whole Kernel Corn, Farm Boy™ Fiesta Blend Shredded Cheese, Farm Boy™ Natural Tortilla Chips.

Mediterranean Barley and Chickpea Salad

For a satisfying, wholesome, and healthy salad recipe, look no further than this one! Full of whole grains, beans, and fresh veggies, it’ll keep you coming back for more. Included in this dish is our Greek Dressing. Prepared in Ontario with simple ingredients, it has a classic, homemade taste.

To ensure the best results, chill this salad at least 30 minutes ahead of time. Not only will this allow the flavours to meld together, but it also makes it easier for meal prepping. This versatile, budget-friendly recipe makes the best of Farm Boy fresh produce and can be easily adjusted to include your favourite beans, herbs, or cheeses.

Beans Used: Chickpeas

Dietary: Vegan or Vegetarian

Suggested Farm Boy Items: Farm Boy™ Pearl Barley, Farm Boy™ Organic Vegetable Broth, Farm Boy™ Organic Chickpeas, Farm Boy™ Pitted Green Olives, Farm Boy™ Barrel Aged Feta Cheese (or Farm Boy™ Vegan Feta Style Cheese Alternative), Farm Boy™ Greek Dressing.

Spicy Chickpea Stew with Chorizo

For a hearty, wholesome bean recipe that’s equally delicious for breakfast, lunch, or dinner, this spicy chickpea and chorizo stew ticks all the boxes. While “stew” may not be the first dish that comes to mind in the morning, the addition of a fried egg transforms this recipe into something that’s shakshuka-adjacent. Prepared with bell peppers, garlic, onions, and chickpeas, this fragrant stew can be enjoyed on its own or served with our Flame Baked Naan, toasted in a tandoori oven for an authentic flavour. If you’re trying to limit meat in your diet, you can always omit the chorizo or use your favourite plant-based substitute.

Beans Used: Chickpeas

Dietary: N/A

Suggested Farm Boy Items: Farm Boy™ Spanish Chorizo, Farm Boy™ Organic Chickpeas, Farm Boy™ Organic Paprika, Farm Boy™ Original Flame Baked Naan.

Tuscan White Bean Stew

When you’re cooking on a budget, it’s economical to prepare a large batch of something, portion it out, and freeze it to enjoy later. This vegan stew recipe is perfect for meal prepping in addition to being hearty and delicious. This dish uses cannellini beans (also known as white kidney beans), which are full of fibre, protein, vitamins, and minerals. They have a mildly nutty flavour, which makes them an excellent choice in plant-based dishes, especially for those with allergies to actual nuts. Comforting and satisfying, serve it with a fresh loaf of crusty bread from our Bake Shop.

Beans Used: Cannellini beans

Dietary: Vegan, Gluten-Free

Suggested Farm Boy Items: Farm Boy™ Organic Italian Seasoning Mix, Farm Boy™ Organic Crushed Dried Chili Peppers, Farm Boy™ Organic Paprika, Farm Boy™ Organic Tomato Paste, Farm Boy™ Diced Tomatoes with Garlic, Basil, and Oregano, Farm Boy™ Organic Vegetable Broth.

Chipotle BBQ Chickpea Sandwiches with Pineapple Salsa Slaw

This vegetarian dinner uses our canned Organic Chickpeas as its protein-packed base for a sandwich that comes together in the time it takes to toast the bun! Sweet, tangy, and a little bit spicy, this budget-friendly sandwich hits all the right flavour notes. Enjoy it with our fresh, made-in-house Pineapple Salsa for a burst of fruity zing! Prepared with juicy pineapple, red and green peppers, jalapeño peppers, lime juice, and cilantro, it brings the perfect pop of flavour to this sammie.

Beans Used: Chickpeas

Dietary: Vegetarian

Suggested Farm Boy Items: Farm Boy™ Organic Chickpeas, Farm Boy™ Chipotle BBQ Sauce, Farm Boy™ Pineapple Salsa.

South of the Border Black Bean Salad

As easy on your wallet as it is tasty on your palate, this simple salad recipe is a delicious dinner or side. Loaded with protein-heavy and fibre-rich Organic Black Beans, this colourful salad also uses bell peppers, tomatoes, and corn. We’ve used our Cow and Goat Feta Cheese in this recipe, but you can opt for our authentic Cotija, a salty, tangy Mexican-style cheese. Or, make it vegan with our Vegan Feta Style Cheese Alternative. Looking for even more creaminess? Chunks of fresh avocado will do the trick!

Beans Used: Black beans

Dietary: Vegan or Vegetarian, Gluten-Free

Suggested Farm Boy Items: Farm Boy™ Organic Black Beans, Farm Boy™ Organic Whole Kernel Corn, Farm Boy™ Cow and Goat Feta Cheese (or Farm Boy™ Vegan Feta Style Cheese Alternative), Farm Boy™ Chili Lime Dressing.

Baked Beans on Toast

Never underestimate the power of a humble piece of toast. Ideal for any time of day, versatile in its array of toppings, toast is always a good decision, especially when we’re on a budget. We hopped across the pond for this comfort food recipe that requires only four ingredients. Our Sugarbush Baked Beans are made in Canada with pure maple syrup and have the added benefit of being high in fibre. When they’re topped with our rich, tangy, handcrafted English Cheddar Cheese, it’s a delicious combination of textures and flavours. This recipe may look unassuming, but don’t be fooled: it has the power to satisfy your cravings.

Beans Used: Baked beans

Dietary: Vegetarian

Suggested Farm Boy Items: Farm Boy™ Sugarbush Baked Beans, Farm Boy™ Sourdough Bread, Farm Boy™ English Cheddar Cheese.

Chicken and Black Bean Tostada

There are open-faced sandwiches and then there are tostadas. In Spanish, “tostada” means “toasted”, and the corn tortillas in this recipe get a little heat from the frying pan to make them nice and crispy. They’re the perfect vehicle for all the good stuff that gets piled on top! To get the most flavour out of the black beans in this recipe, be sure not to drain them. Mash them with their liquid instead to get the best texture and taste. We’ve opted to top these tostadas with our Barrel Aged Feta, but our Cotija would also be delicious. Both have a tangy, salty flavour and crumble beautifully.

Beans Used: Black beans

Dietary: Vegetarian

Suggested Farm Boy Items: Farm Boy™ Virgin Sunflower Oil, Farm Boy™ Organic Black Beans, Farm Boy™ Yellow Corn Tortillas, Farm Boy™ Pico de Gallo, Farm Boy™ Barrel Aged Feta Cheese.

Mediterranean Bean, Kale, & Quinoa Salad

Nutritious and delicious, this simple chopped salad recipe is made even easier when you use our Organic Mixed Quinoa. It cooks in the microwave in just 1 minute—no stovetop required! Made with our Organic Four Bean Medley, it’s chock full of chickpeas, kidney beans, pinto beans, and black-eye peas (which, contrary to their name, are actually beans). Full of protein, fibre, and healthy fats, this vegetarian salad recipe is an easy one to make ahead of time for a quick, no-cook dinner. If you’re looking to make this dish entirely plant-based, simply swap our feta cheese for our Vegan Feta Style Cheese Alternative. It has all of the same tangy flavour but without any of the dairy.

Beans Used: Chickpeas, red kidney beans, pinto beans, black-eyed peas.

Dietary: Vegan or Vegetarian, Gluten-Free

Suggested Farm Boy Items: Farm Boy™ Quinoa, Farm Boy™ Organic Chickpeas, Farm Boy™ Organic Four Bean Medley, Farm Boy™ Mediterranean Vinaigrette, Farm Boy™ Cow and Goat Feta Cheese (or Farm Boy™ Vegan Feta Style Cheese Alternative), Farm Boy™ Jumbo Kalamata Olives.

Butter Chickpeas

Butter chicken is a beloved dish in Indian cuisine and a popular choice if you’re not a big fan of spice. For an even more convenient meal, prepare this budget-friendly dish ahead of time and allow it to simmer. This allows the flavours to deepen and develop, making for a richer, more complex taste. We used our Butter Chicken Cooking Sauce, which is a favourite from our Hot Bar, now available to take home! It’s prepared with authentic Indian spices like cumin, turmeric, garam masala, cardamom, and curry. Simply heat and enjoy!

Beans Used: Chickpeas

Dietary: Vegetarian

Suggested Farm Boy Items: Farm Boy™ Vegetable Cooking Oil, Farm Boy™ Crushed Tomatoes, Farm Boy™ Organic Chickpeas, Farm Boy™ Butter Chicken Cooking Sauce, Farm Boy™ Organic Paprika, Farm Boy™ Organic Mixed Quinoa, Farm Boy™ Flame Baked Whole Wheat Naan.