Are you keen for beans? A bit of an im-pulse-ive eater? Or a bit gentle on the lentils? Take our quiz to find out your style of pulses, and get some recipes tailored for you.
Across Brighton & Hove we’re encouraging people to get keen for beans this Winter, and discover the health, price, and taste benefits of adding more pulses to your life.
1. How many different types of pulses can you name?
A) I’m not really clear what a pulse is, never mind how many types there are!
B) I can name 2-3 but don’t necessarily cook with them
C) I can name a few that I use regularly
D) I know of quite a few different pulses, but don’t use them
E) I know more than 8 different types of pulses, and cook with them
2. Do you know the difference between a bean, pea, legume, and pulse?
A) No!
B) I think I know the difference between a bean and a pea, not sure about the others
C) I know the different between a bean, a pea, and a pulse, and I know where to find them in the supermarket
D) Yes, just about.
E) Yes, and I grow them and can tell you all about how good they are for the soil, too.
3. How confident do you feel preparing dried pulses?
A) Preparing what? How?
B) I’ve got some bags of them at home but have never gotten around to doing anything with them
C) There are a few dried pulses that I prepare very often
D) I occasionally soak and cook dried beans but not as much as I’d like
E) Very confident. I know the soaking times for different beans, and have developed my own technique
4. How often do you cook with pulses?
A) I like baked beans
B) Sometimes I throw a few beans in a chilli
C) Very often – I like to bulk out my meals with a few dried pulses
D) Pretty often – I buy them in tins and throw them in my meals a few times a week
E) Multiple times a week. I have lots of variety in the pulses I use
5. We’re fond of hummus in Brighton & Hove. Have you ever made your own hummus before?
A) I didn’t even know hummus came from pulses!
B) No – it feels like too much effort to get all the ingredients together
C) Yes – way cheaper, way more delicious
D) Yes, sometimes
E) Very regularly! I’ve even made it out of broad beans before. I like to get experimental.
6. Can you name some pulse-based flours?
A) What?!
B) One or two
C) I sometimes blend my own beans to make flour
D) I know of a lot of pulse-based flours
E) Yes, and I use them regularly 
7. Have you ever used pulses as a meat replacement?
A) Can I make baked beans the centre-piece of my Sunday dinner?
B) I made a vegetarian shepherd’s pie once
C) Yeah, it’s way cheaper than meat or vegetarian sausage
D) A few times, but I prefer to use shop-bought replacements
E) All the time!
Beginner Beans:
If you answered mostly A’s, it sounds like you’re a beginner bean eater. You might think they don’t look appetising, feel put off by their gassy reputation, and generally steer clear of those weird looking things. As with anything new in life, we’d recommend adding beans incrementally to your diet. This helps your gut adapt to them, and also gets you used to the taste. We’ve got some really easy recipes to help you start dipping your toes in the bean world. Why not try this easy Mexican bean soup, or this simple minestrone? Both can be made in the slow-cooker, making them even easier. Try this simple coconut dal recipe to start incorporating lentils into your life – you won’t regret it! We’d also recommend you check out our bean FAQs, to start feeling more confident with cooking beans.
Hesitant Haricot:
If you answered mostly B’s, it sounds like you’re branching out into the world of beans, but could use a bit of help along the way. We’ve got you covered! If you’re starting out, why not try out some of our unexpected beans recipes, to help you enjoy the versatility of beans. You might be surprised at all the different places you can use beans in recipes. You could have some smashed peas and broad beans on toast as an easy snack, some broad-bean hummus, a vegan creamy pasta sauce made from a can of cannellini beans, or some gluten-free and vegan flourless chocolate brownies made from black beans!
Savvy Split Pea:
If you answered mostly C’s, it sounds like you’re a savvy bean eater. You know that pulses are a great way to save money on your shopping bill, and you love feeling smug knowing how much cheaper a bean chilli is to make. Check out our low-cost recipes that can be made in the slow cooker or on the stove, and are perfect for batch cooking. This kitchari recipe is a way for you to use up any leftover root veg, whilst this chickpea and peach curry is an easy way to use up tins that are lying around. Meanwhile, this minestrone soup can be made in the slow-cooker and batch cooked.
Familiar Fava:
If you answered mostly D’s, it sounds like you’re going steady in your relationship with beans. You’ve got a lot of knowledge of beans, even if you don’t always cook with them, and you know your way around a tin of chickpeas. Why not try some of international bean recipes, to help spice up your relationship with beans and find new ways to incorporate them into your life. Check out our easy ‘Buddha Bowl‘, or consider spicing up your daal recipe by making a creamy, cheap, and easy black daal. Or how about chickpeas with pasta? A favourite in Rome, and a favourite of our Community Cookery chef, Emiliano!
Committed Chickpea :
If you answered mostly E’s, it sounds like you’re in love with beans and well-accustomed to cooking with them. You’re friendly with fava, pally with your pintos, and in love with legumes generally. Perhaps you have some things to teach us?! Make sure to tag us in any pictures you take of your favourite meals with pulses. In the meantime, why not try our dinner-party favourite veggie wellington? Or revel in the comfort of some homemade black-bean and sweet potato burgers. Our Moroccan Fireside Stew can be cooked over a fire…or in your slow cooker, and packs a punch however you decide to cook it. These are great for dinner parties, impressing friends, and taking your relationship to beans that step further.
Once you’ve got your finger on the pulse, see if you can commit to adding one of our recommended pulse recipes to your meal plan this Winter. Don’t forget to tag us in your photos at @btnhovefood with hashtag #keenforbeans!