This delicious legume and vegetable casserole draws on the French casserole tradition—the precursor to casseroles—which often have a flavorful base of beans and meat. However, you can showcase beans and veggies and skip the meat entirely, like I do in this classic vegan heirloom bean casserole recipe that’s completely plant-based (vegan) and gluten-free. Try unusual dried heirloom beans—goat’s eye beans, rattlesnake beans, flag beans—or your ubiquitous beans, like lima beans or cannellini beans. All you have to do is soak the beans overnight, cook with onions, garlic, and root vegetables, drizzle with olive oil, and bake to create this truly rustic, hearty vegetarian casserole that’s packed with plant-based protein. This is one of my favorite one-pot meal recipes because the beans and veggies create a delicious and nutritious combination, especially when paired with crusty, toasted whole wheat bread. Follow the instructions below to make a slow cooker or instant pot heirloom version of this recipe.
What are heirloom beans?
Heirloom beans are unusual bean varieties that farmers discover during harvest and can save the seeds to plant the following year—essentially an heirloom! Maybe it’s a branch with a nice color or a large shape—whatever it is, the farmer selects a plant to harvest its beans (which are also next year’s seeds) and plant them again, forever preserving that plant’s unique qualities. That’s why we have so many gorgeous, unique bean varieties! I’ll admit it right now – I collect heirloom beans. Whenever I discover an unusual bean variety, I buy it and save it for future cooking adventures. In the recipe shown here, I used Beanstory’s white runner beans. But I find a lot of cool beans at farmers markets and stores around the world to bring back to my kitchen. Because of their long shelf life, you can collect heirloom beans to use in cooking year-round. This is my business!
So you can use this simple, straightforward recipe to utilize your heirloom beans, or showcase any dried beans you have in your pantry. up to you! I promise, this rustic and hearty recipe for Vegan Heirloom Bean Casserole will make the most of any bean. Here’s how to serve it: Pair it with crusty whole-wheat bread toasted to perfection (perfect for soaking up any lingering juices at the bottom of the dish), and a crisp green salad. It’s just that, a plant-based meal made in heaven, and very affordable. Adding more legumes to your diet also brings all the nutritional rewards.
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This rustic, hearty Vegan Heirloom Bean Casserole features heirloom beans, carrots, parsnips, olives, and rosemary for a delicious, economical, vegan, gluten-free, and nutritious vegetable casserole.
- Soak the beans in water overnight. Drain and rinse the beans and place in a large ovenproof pot or Dutch oven.
- Add 6 cups fresh water, vegetable cubes, bay leaves, celery salt and garlic and bring to a boil. Reduce heat to medium, cover and cook for 20 minutes.
- Add the onions, carrots and parsnips, cover and simmer until the beans are tender but firm on the outside, about 45 – 60 minutes (time will vary depending on the type of beans).
- About 10 minutes before the beans are cooked, start preheating the oven to 375 F.
- Drizzle the pan with olive oil and top the beans with the olives and rosemary.
- Place the pot or Dutch oven on the top rack of the oven and bake, uncovered, for 10 minutes.
- Serve immediately. Makes 8 servings (about 1 1/4 cups each).
notes
Instant Pot Instructions: Skip step 1. For steps 2 and 3, place all of these ingredients into the container of the Instant Pot and press the “Bean” setting. Cook according to manufacturer’s instructions. Release pressure, transfer beans to casserole, drain off excess liquid (should result in a thick texture), and follow steps 4-6.
Slow Cooker Instructions: Follow Step 1. For steps 2 and 3, place all of these ingredients in a slow cooker container and cook on high for 4-6 hours or medium for 8-10 hours according to the manufacturer’s instructions. Transfer beans to casserole, drain off excess liquid (should result in a thick texture), and follow steps 4-6.
Find heirloom beans from the following sources:
- Preparation time: 15 minutes
- Cooking time: 1 hour and 30 minutes
- category: main course
- gourmet food: Mediterranean, French, American
Nutrition
- Serving size: 1 serving
- Calories: 197
- sugar: 7 grams
- sodium: 76.5 mg
- fat: 1 g
- Saturated fat: 0 grams
- carbohydrate: 41 grams
- fiber: 12.5 grams
- protein: 13.5 grams
- cholesterol: 0 mg
Keywords: heirloom beans, heirloom beans, vegetarian casserole, vegetable casserole, easy one pot meals, casserole recipes
For other legume dishes, check out some of my favorites:
Mediterranean Persimmon and White Bean Salad
Spicy Pumpkin Black Bean Burger
White Bean Ratatouille
Green Bean and Chickpea Salad with Za’atar
Vegan Tacos with Jackfruit, Black Beans and Quinoa
Tuscan Kale and White Bean Savory Pie
Sautéed Asparagus with Broad Beans
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