Kidney Beans - Nutritional Value, Health Benefits and Recipes

When I did my monthly shopping a couple weeks ago I bought quite a few beans. My goal was to eat healthier and cheaper. I was hoping to buy some large bags of dry beans but the store that I thought would have them didn't carry them in the bulk amounts I wanted. So I bought some smaller bags of dry beans as well as some in cans. This week I've been cooking with some of the canned kidney beans and I decided to research some of the specific health benefits of these yummy beans.

Here are a few of the things I learned. Actually, some of it I knew already, but other things were completely knew to me. 

Kidney beans scientific name is Phaseolus Vulgaris and there are over 30,000 different varieties of throughout the world. India, Brazil, Mexico, the US and China are some of the main producers of beans. 

Kidney beans contain both soluble and insoluble fiber. Both are very important in a healthy diet. They are high in Iron, Vitamin A, Vitamin C and Folate. They are also a good source of protein, but it is an incomplete protein. Including a whole grain with your meal of kidney beans will provide the ingredients for a complete protein, without the saturated fats and cholesterol that many other protein sources contain. 

Crusty Mexican Bean Bake is a recipe I found using kidney beans that sounds wonderfully delicious and healthy that I am hoping to try soon.

A recipe that we have made and I posted about earlier this week is Slow Cooker Beans and Bacon.

And here is another recipe that we tried this week.

Cheesy Beans and Rice

2 cups rice
4 cups water
1 large (52 ounce) can kidney beans or 3 small (16 ounce) cans kidney beans, rinsed and drained
1cup water
2 Tablespoons chili powder
1 teaspoon ground cumin
1 teaspoon salt
black pepper to taste
2 peppers, chopped
1 onion, chopped
2 Tablespoons olive oil
2 cups grated cheddar cheese

Preheat oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit.

In saucepan bring water to a boil. Add rice and stir. Reduce heat, cover and simmer until rice is done.

Saute chopped peppers and onion in olive oil.

Pour beans into a casserole dish. Add water,  chili powder, ground cumin, salt, black pepper and sauteed peppers and onions. Stir. Bake for 30 minutes. 

Add cheese and bake for an additional 5 to 10 minutes. 

Serve beans over cooked rice.

~ Linking Here ~

 SUNDAY – Strut Your Stuff,   Creative Bloggers Party and Hop,  Sunday Showcase, Not “Baaad” Sunday , Think Pink Sundays, Sunday Linky Party, DIY Project Parade, Savory Sundays, Just Something I Whipped Up, Sew Darn Crafty,{K.I.S.S.} Blog Bash, MONDAY –The Better Mom, I Made It, More the Merrier, Inspire Me Mondays, A Marvelous Mess, Made By You Monday, Homestead Barn Hop, Making the World Cuter Monday, Craft-O-Maniac Monday, Market Yourself Monday, Making Monday Marvelous, Motivate Me Monday,Sharing Monday, Making a Home,  TUESDAY -Tuesday Garden Party,  Heart & Home Tuesdays!,Titus 2sdays, Domestically Divine, One Project at a Time, Tuesday Time Out, Tuesday Confessionals , Teach Me Tuesdays ,Tip Me Tuesday, A Little Birdie Told Me WEDNESDAY -Outdoor Wednesday, Homemaking Link-Up, Encourage One Another, Made by Me Wednesdays, Living Well Wednesdays, Cast Party Wednesday, {Wow Me} Wednesday, Foodie Wednesday THURSDAY – Delightfully Inspiring Thursday, Creative Juice Thursday, It's a Party, Link It Up Thursday FRIDAY – Fridays on Remodelaholic, Fridays Unfolded, SATURDAY - Weekend Wrap-Up Party, Get Schooled Saturday