Vegetable and Bean Recipes

Woman with vegetables at Chichicastenanango market
Image by Guillén Pérez

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

Aginares à la Polita 
(Greek artichoke hearts and potatoes with dill)

Coo-Coo 
(Bajan cornmeal mush with okra)

Hoppin’ John 
(American rice and black-eyed peas)

Töltött Paprika 
(Hungarian stuffed peppers)

Vigorón 
(Nicaraguan yuca, pork rind and cabbage salad)

Imam Bayildi 
(Turkish stuffed eggplant braised in olive oil)

Töltött Káposzta 
(Hungarian stuffed cabbage rolls over sauerkraut)

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

Moong Dal 
(Indian simmered mung beans)

Domates Yemistes 
(Greek rice-stuffed tomatoes)

Boiled Green Bananas 
(Jamaican starchy side dish)

Sigumchi Namul 
(Korean sesame spinach)

Matar Paneer 
(Indian curried peas and cheese)

Candied Sweet Potatoes 
(American sugar-baked sweet potatoes)

Muchines de Yuca 
(Ecuadorian stuffed and fried cassava balls)

Baingan Bhurta 
(Indian curried eggplant and tomatoes)

Creamed Corn 
(American corn kernels simmered with cream)

Torta Pasqualina 
(Italian Easter spinach, ricotta and egg torte)

Hakô Bantara 
(Guinean cassava leaf stew)

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

Poutine 
(Canadian fried potatoes with gravy and cheese curds)

Dal Bhat Tarkari 
(Nepalese vegetable curry with lentil soup and rice)

Quimbombó Guisado 
(Puerto Rican stewed okra)

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

Spanakopita 
(Greek spinach and feta pie)

Gratin de Potiron 
(French winter squash casserole)

Sookju Namul 
(Korean mung bean sprout salad)

Saag 
(Indian, Pakistani spiced spinach)

Tian de Courgettes et de Tomates 
(French Provencal summer squash and tomato gratin)

Janssons Frestelse 
(Swedish potato, onion and cream casserole)

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

Malai Kofta 
(Indian veggie dumplings in curry sauce)

Yuca Frita 
(Latin American cassava fries)

Hausgemachtes Sauerkraut 
(German, Austrian, Swiss homemade fermented cabbage)

Moin Moin 
(Nigerian savory steamed bean pudding)

Lecsó 
(Hungarian simmered peppers and tomatoes)

Carottes Braisées au Beurre 
(French braised carrots with butter)

Frijoles de la Olla 
(Mexican beans in broth)

Mesir Wat 
(Ethiopian red lentil stew)

Spinaci con Pinoli 
(Italian sautéed spinach with garlic and pinenuts)

Hobak Namul 
(Korean zucchini squash side dish)

Tepsi Baytinijan 
(Iraqi meatball and vegetable casserole)

Mashed Potatoes 
(Irish and American potato puree)

Carrot Tzimmes 
(Israeli, Jewish carrots braised with honey)

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

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