How to Make Beans Your Breakfast

I first tried lupini beans at a bar in Montreal. They were served on their own as an antipasto, plain but absolutely delicious (which is always exactly the point). I can’t remember who I was with, or what was happening around us, only those small bursts of delight in a bowl that I wished was bottomless. Dense, snappy, and as savory as one could hope for, they’re only made better, I’ve since realized, in the context of a hot breakfast.

Many of us already begin our day with beans. Beyond the coffee variety, though, an unmatched source of energy and fullness comes from the kind you can (and frankly, probably should) eat at that hour of the day. Tucked into spicy tomato sauce, blended into a smooth spread and smeared on toast topped with salad, or stirred together with smoky bacon, bright green peas, perfectly jammy eggs, and ever-essential pickled red onions, beans, as I see them, are one of the most enjoyable ways to get—and remain—up on the right side of bed. 

For the sake of ideal texture, it can be nice to prepare dried beans in your own preferred cooking liquids with whatever seasonings speak to you—if you’re the type of person who plans ahead, start there. But with the following recipes, you can also easily crack open a can or jar and have an uplifting and satisfying meal ready in a matter of minutes.