A Pot of Beans

just because you can, it doesn't mean that you want to... so don’t

things you’ll need: beans (I used Rio Zape beans from Rancho Gordo and they are AMAzing. I cannot recommend them more. pintos or black beans suffice for this preparation), aromatics (carrot, celery, onion, garlic, maybe throw in a jalapeño or poblano, whole cumin seed, oregano, epazote, bay leaf, etc), oil/fat, salt & pepper.

something to eat them with: quesadillas, warm tortillas, crusty bread, a bowl of rice, chips, scrambled eggs, or a deep spoon.

something for garnish: avocado, onion, chopped tomatoes, queso fresco, hot sauce, cilantro, salsa, sour cream, etc.

side note: Not only are Rancho Gordo beans delicious, but they are also fresh enough to forgo the soaking process, which means that a pot of beans can be tender and delicious within 1-4 hours on the stove or less if you use a pressure cooker. Nothing about this is sponsored by them (though I’m open to it *wink*). I just love them.

If you’ve been reading this for a while, you know that I love beans (just search the archive). I don’t eat them all the time, but I’ve been working them into my regular diet. They are delicious, deeply nutritious, and an affordable placeholder for meat. As the whole meat industry continues to be awful (for the animals and the environment) and the prices have gone up significantly, I’ve been de-emphasizing meat in my diet. I’m not here to proselytize vegetarianism, veganism, or flexitarianism. Do what you want, but you don’t have to be broke or radical to start thinking about other delicious places to get your protein.

Incidentally gluten-free, vegetarian, and vegan.

---

Chapter 248

Just because you can, it doesn’t mean that you have to. All “should” aside, you do what you want or, at the very least, what you need. Some people call these “boundaries” and highly recommend them.

It’s not just to protect yourself from other people’s expectations and desires. It’s also to protect yourself from yourself. You volunteer to find yourself in bad situations all the time. Sometimes you think no one will do it if you don’t or that not doing whatever it is will look like failure.

Maybe your aversion to disappointing people or not reaching your full potential is a bad premise for decision-making. Maybe you are right and someone will resent you for not giving all of yourself away to their wanting. Pardon the Germanic or Old French etymology, but fuck them.

If all that pressure is actually coming from inside your own self (it is), then you need a bath or a long walk. Then, you need to go easier on yourself.

Take the humble bean. It never tries too hard. It doesn’t pretend that it can do everything. It takes in what it needs, drinks enough water, and takes as much time as it needs to get ready.

When beans show up for dinner, most of the work is already done. They can shapeshift and find their way into dessert. They can be pressed and processed with other veggie matter into something resembling a burger. They can even be something close to pizza, if that’s what you need.

They don’t have to do all that. So, they don’t. Just like making soup, they start with aromatics, sauteed in a bit of oil/fat. If you don’t have the time or wherewithal for all that, just halve an onion and break up a carrot or whatever shriveled garlic cloves are laying about. If it’s within your means and spoon count, bloom some cumin seeds in the oil for a few seconds and/or add some oregano.

Rinse the beans, add them to the aromatics, and combine with enough water to cover by three inches. Bring to a boil. Wait 10 minutes. Pop a lid on, drop it down to simmer, and then walk away.

Maybe take that bath. Practice not agreeing to sign up for anything else and being immune to making your life harder by making someone else’s easier, unless it brings you joy. Make a list of all the things you can do and then circle the things you actually like, just as a reminder.

Check about once an hour. When they are a little toothsome, before they are mush, add salt. The broth should be salty enough to remind you of soup. Cook until the beans are done. If you aren’t ready to eat, put the lid on and they’ll hang out for about an hour before you have to worry about the possibility of “going bad”. In most cases, you can push it to 2 hours (this is about the chance of heat-resistant bacteria, not taste).

Sure, you can do a little extra and make some quesadillas or warm some tortillas. You can make a whole garnish buffet. You can also just grab a spoon and some hot sauce. If you start with good beans, that’s all you need.

This is a meal. It’s enough. It’s delicious and good for you and has no idea what a mother sauce is or the difference between a dice and a mince. Beans always can and choose to not, because they have good boundaries and so much to offer just by showing up.

Feel free to have the leftovers with scrambled eggs in the morning or toss them in a salad or sauté them with greens for lunch. Reserve all that pot liquor from some other project that begs for broth. Practice making resources out of labor you’ve already spent. Taking it easy doesn’t make you any less capable.

---

Thank you, as always, for your support. I keep going because you keep reading.

One-time contributions/tips are also welcome via Venmo @eatwellenough.

You can also give a gift subscription, hit that “Like” button, share, forward, follow on Instagram (@eatwellenough), or otherwise spread the word about this project.

Leave a comment or drop a line at eatwellenough@gmail.com