Our title says it all — this vegan, gluten-free southwest bean salad is bursting with both flavor and protein! It contains garbanzos, black beans, and corn, so you’ll be getting a real protein boost.

This incredible vegan bean dish is as delicious as it is nutritious, with just a little heat. And it’s really easy to make!

You will not believe how delicious, fast, and easy, these smoky beans are! While you can use any white beans we chose to use Great Northerns.

What happened? It’s already the end of the summer — the time when we often have a lot of vegetables left over from our numerous trips to farmer’s markets, co-ops, and supermarkets. Two vegetables that seem ubiquitous are cucumbers and wax beans. Recently, we faced a conundrum — our refrigerator’s crisper was filled to overflowing with cukes and beans. We’d rather perish than waste food, especially fresh veggies! Fortunately, with very little fuss, we were able to whip up this yummy salad. It requires few ingredients, and is cheap and easy to make. On those muggy summer nights when hot food is unappealing, this dish is a winner.

You’ve most likely had hummus, but have you tried its sweeter, lighter cousin, baba ghanoush? Baba ghanoush is a lot like hummus, since it has a tahini base. However, instead of adding garbanzo beans, this recipe utilizes roasted eggplant. The result is equally delicious. Our light but zesty meal is easy to make, and perfect for warm summer nights. You can serve it with gluten-free pita bread or with gluten-free toast points sprinkled with thyme, olive oil or vegan butter, and a bit of granulated garlic. We feel confident that you’ll love this dish either way.

You’ll love this cold but nourishing dish. The addition of corn gives sweetness to this protein-rich meal. It’s easy to make and oh-so-tasty!

When my husband’s aunt laughed at the idea that I could create a vegan chili that was worthy of entering into the family’s annual, meat-laden chili cook-off, I knew I wanted to enter it as a contender. After all, chili really revolves around the seasoning and, I think, a well-seasoned pot of beans stands on its own merits.

Beans are an excellent way to celebrate National Celiac Awareness month, so we are devoting the rest of the week to the lovely legume. Beans are a staple in the diet of many vegans and vegetarians because they are packed full of fiber and protein. When we think of beans, often we think of bland or overly-seasoned varieties that come in cans, ready to plop on the barbecue while still in the can. Blech! Beans are much more versatile than that and deserve a ton more credit!