Vegetable and Bean Recipes

Although there are thousands of potentially edible species of plants in the world, human beings use only a small number for food. Most food plants have long been domesticated and bred into forms that serve various purposes and palates.

The domestication of wild plants began around 10,000 years ago at the end of the last Ice Age. The initial domestication occurred in the Middle East, but agriculture also arose independently in other places at other times. Southeast Asia, Central and South America also cradled ancient civilizations that produced their own agricultural products. Because of this, most of the vegetables we find on our plates today originated in these four areas of the world.

Vegetables do not generally form the caloric foundation of human diets, nor are they a large source of protein. The basic role of vegetables in the diet is to provide a range of vitamins, minerals and antioxidants that are essential to the well being of the body. These nutrients not only maintain heath but also help prevent the onset of disease.

A second and more enjoyable role of vegetables is to provide variety and flavor. Grains and grain products alone can be bland. And meat can be heavy and difficult to digest. But add tomatoes, onions, peppers, mushrooms, herbs and spices, and a dish is transformed. The endless variety of colors, scents and flavors offered by vegetables ensure that cooking, eating and the culinary experience are never boring.

International Vegetable and Bean Recipes

Lecsó 
(Hungarian simmered peppers and tomatoes)

Lecsó 
(Hungarian simmered peppers and tomatoes)

Saag 
(Indian, Pakistani spiced spinach)

Saag 
(Indian, Pakistani spiced spinach)

Ewa Dodo 
(Nigerian black-eyed pea stew with plantains)

Ewa Dodo 
(Nigerian black-eyed pea stew with plantains)

Mashed Potatoes 
(Irish and American potato puree)

Mashed Potatoes 
(Irish and American potato puree)

Gigantes Plaki sto Fourno 
(Greek baked white beans in tomato sauce)

Gigantes Plaki sto Fourno 
(Greek baked white beans in tomato sauce)

Dong Gu Dofu 
(Chinese braised tofu with mushrooms)

Dong Gu Dofu 
(Chinese braised tofu with mushrooms)

Malai Kofta 
(Indian veggie dumplings in curry sauce)

Malai Kofta 
(Indian veggie dumplings in curry sauce)

Ghapama 
(Armenian rice-stuffed and baked whole pumpkin)

Ghapama 
(Armenian rice-stuffed and baked whole pumpkin)

Plantain Porridge 
(Nigerian plantain and vegetable stew)

Plantain Porridge 
(Nigerian plantain and vegetable stew)

Boiled Green Bananas 
(Jamaican starchy side dish)

Boiled Green Bananas 
(Jamaican starchy side dish)

Vigorón 
(Nicaraguan yuca, pork rind and cabbage salad)

Vigorón 
(Nicaraguan yuca, pork rind and cabbage salad)

Fagioli all’Uccelletto 
(Italian white beans with tomato and sage)

Fagioli all’Uccelletto 
(Italian white beans with tomato and sage)

Gratin de Potiron 
(French winter squash casserole)

Gratin de Potiron 
(French winter squash casserole)

Habas con Chorizo 
(Spanish fava beans simmered with spicy sausage)

Habas con Chorizo 
(Spanish fava beans simmered with spicy sausage)

Moong Dal 
(Indian simmered mung beans)

Moong Dal 
(Indian simmered mung beans)

Zucchini con Salvia 
(Italian sautéed zucchini and sage)

Zucchini con Salvia 
(Italian sautéed zucchini and sage)

Poutine 
(Canadian fried potatoes with gravy and cheese curds)

Poutine 
(Canadian fried potatoes with gravy and cheese curds)

Mesir Wat 
(Ethiopian red lentil stew)

Mesir Wat 
(Ethiopian red lentil stew)

Calabacitas y Elotes con Crema 
(Mexican zucchini and corn simmered in cream)

Calabacitas y Elotes con Crema 
(Mexican zucchini and corn simmered in cream)

Hasselbackspotatis 
(Swedish Hasselback butter-baked potatoes)

Hasselbackspotatis 
(Swedish Hasselback butter-baked potatoes)

Caponata Siciliana 
(Italian sweet and sour eggplant dish)

Caponata Siciliana 
(Italian sweet and sour eggplant dish)

Fassolakia 
(Greek green beans in tomato sauce)

Fassolakia 
(Greek green beans in tomato sauce)

Sayur Lodeh 
(Indonesian vegetables in coconut curry)

Sayur Lodeh 
(Indonesian vegetables in coconut curry)

Hobak Namul 
(Korean zucchini squash side dish)

Hobak Namul 
(Korean zucchini squash side dish)

Spanakopita 
(Greek spinach and feta pie)

Spanakopita 
(Greek spinach and feta pie)

Brussels Sprouts Gratin 
(English roasted Brussels sprouts with cheese sauce)

Brussels Sprouts Gratin 
(English roasted Brussels sprouts with cheese sauce)

Yuca Frita 
(Latin American cassava fries)

Yuca Frita 
(Latin American cassava fries)

Kunde 
(Kenyan black-eyed peas and tomatoes in peanut sauce)

Kunde 
(Kenyan black-eyed peas and tomatoes in peanut sauce)

Chiles Rellenos 
(Mexican stuffed, fried chile peppers)

Chiles Rellenos 
(Mexican stuffed, fried chile peppers)

Coo-Coo 
(Bajan cornmeal mush with okra)

Coo-Coo 
(Bajan cornmeal mush with okra)

Musaka’a 
(Palestinian eggplant baked with tomatoes and chickpeas)

Musaka’a 
(Palestinian eggplant baked with tomatoes and chickpeas)

Irio 
(Kenyan mashed peas, potatoes and corn)

Irio 
(Kenyan mashed peas, potatoes and corn)

Tahu dan Tempe Bumbu Rujak 
(Indonesian tofu and tempeh in spicy coconut sauce)

Tahu dan Tempe Bumbu Rujak 
(Indonesian tofu and tempeh in spicy coconut sauce)

Kabocha Nimono 
(Japanese simmered pumpkin)

Kabocha Nimono 
(Japanese simmered pumpkin)

Ful Medames 
(Egyptian slow-cooked fava beans)

Ful Medames 
(Egyptian slow-cooked fava beans)

Nasu 
(Japanese steamed, sliced eggplant)

Nasu 
(Japanese steamed, sliced eggplant)

Gratin Dauphinois 
(French potatoes baked with cream)

Gratin Dauphinois 
(French potatoes baked with cream)

Hakô Bantara 
(Guinean cassava leaf stew)

Hakô Bantara 
(Guinean cassava leaf stew)

Chakalaka 
(South African spicy tomato, pepper and onion dish)

Chakalaka 
(South African spicy tomato, pepper and onion dish)

Sookju Namul 
(Korean mung bean sprout salad)

Sookju Namul 
(Korean mung bean sprout salad)

Tortilla Española de Patata 
(Spanish open-faced potato omelet)

Tortilla Española de Patata 
(Spanish open-faced potato omelet)

Asparagi alla Parmigiana 
(Italian asparagus gratin)

Asparagi alla Parmigiana 
(Italian asparagus gratin)

Frijoles de la Olla 
(Mexican beans in broth)

Frijoles de la Olla 
(Mexican beans in broth)

Janssons Frestelse 
(Swedish potato, onion and cream casserole)

Janssons Frestelse 
(Swedish potato, onion and cream casserole)

Sigumchi Namul 
(Korean sesame spinach)

Sigumchi Namul 
(Korean sesame spinach)

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