Simple Anasazi Beans

I saw these beautiful and interesting looking beans in the health food store and decided I would really like to try them; they are called Anasazi Beans.

The Anasazi Bean is an ancient heirloom bean. It has a deep reddish-brown and white spotted appearance. When cooked, the bean has a mildly sweet flavor and turns pink. The bean was named after the Native Americans in the South-Western part of North America, such as Arizona, New Mexico, Utah, and Colorado, 1500 years ago. It is believed that this bean was a staple in their diet.

For more recipes with beans, check out my

White Bean Soup

Vegan Brazilian Black Bean Stew

Kidney Bean Curry

Beans are loaded with nutrients and are low in fat. They contain protein, carbohydrate, calcium, magnesium, iron, niacin, potassium and fiber. Studies have shown that eating 1 cup of cooked beans a day can lower total cholesterol levels by 10% in 6 weeks and decrease your risk of heart disease.

Beans are an ideal food for a weight loss program. They contain soluble fiber, which when consumed traps bile containing cholesterol and removes it from the body. The soluble fiber also gives a feeling of satiety and thus reduces hunger.

Beans also reduce blood sugar levels and are therefore helpful for diabetics. The high fiber and low glycemic index of the complex sugars in the beans are digested slowly, preventing the glucose levels from spiking.

According to the American Heart Association, beans eaten regularly as part of a diet low in saturated fat and cholesterol may reduce the risk of diabetes, colon and rectal cancers.

Anasazi Beans contain 25% less complex carbohydrates than other beans, therefore they are more digestible, resulting in less flatulence and a quicker cooking time than most other beans. Some people avoid eating beans because of unsociable flatulence that may be experienced; some of this may be prevented if proper preparation and cooking is implemented.

To reduce flatulence cooking beans with Kombu or Epazote will help to break down the complex carbohydrates that cause gas.

Ingredients:

• 2 cups Anasazi Beans (soaked overnight)
• 1 onion (minced)
• 1/4 cup carrots (chopped)
• 2 cloves of garlic (chopped)
• 1 tsp nutritional yeast flakes
• 11/2 teaspoons sea salt
• 1/2 teaspoon oregano (dried)

Directions:

Sort and wash Anasazi Beans then soak overnight in cold water about 4 inches above beans.; discard water and rinse the following morning.

Place beans in water approximately 2 inches above the beans. Cook over medium-high heat.

When it reaches boiling point, reduce heat and simmer for about 50 minutes. Add onion, garlic, nutritional yeast flakes, salt, carrots, and oregano. Cook for another 5 minutes.

This is my first time cooking Anasazi Beans so I decided to cook it simply so I could taste the natural flavor of the bean. Later, I will revisit it and make chili, burgers, and other such foods.

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