Elevate Canned Beans With 2 Ingredients You Already Have

Whether served as a side dish or used as a filler in something like burritos, canned beans are an essential part of many diets worldwide. Many types of canned beans can be used in numerous ways, but like some other foods such as potatoes, they need some help in the flavor department. But while they are fairly bland on their own, it only takes a couple of staple ingredients to truly make them shine. 

Garlic is the first such addition you should reach for when elevating canned beans. The slight sweetness and notes of spice give beans a boost of flavor that few other ingredients can match. It also adds a savory touch without overpowering the mild flavor of beans, but garlic does its best work when paired with vibrant aromatic herbs.

When it comes to herbal add-ins, the piney, almost lemony aroma of thyme can add depth to nearly any legume, giving them a bright, fresh flavor profile. When combined with garlic, thyme transforms canned beans into a vibrant, savory eating experience. Oregano can also wake up canned beans by lending them a slightly bitter taste with minty undertones, which garlic's sharp bite complements splendidly. Cilantro is another herb that can brighten up canned beans. It is pungent, so a little goes a long way, but its peppery notes and light tartness complement the typically earthy flavor of beans in a way few other aromatics can. Simply blending garlic and your favorite herbs into canned beans gives them a world of character, but by including a couple more ingredients, the flavor can soar to even greater heights.

Garlic and herbs will elevate canned beans in a pinch, but if you want to give them even more depth, let them simmer in some kind of flavorful liquid. Chicken stock is perfect for this. Just allowing the beans to simmer in a couple of tablespoons of savory broth with the spices will make them richer.

Rinsing canned beans is essential for several dishes, but you can also use the starchy, salty liquid containing the legumes to enhance their overall flavor. Instead of discarding the liquid from the can, add a couple of tablespoons into the pan and let them soak up the liquid as they cook. Should the beans come out too salty, thin out the flavor with some acid. A small squeeze of fresh lemon juice can go a long way to reducing the salinity and balancing the dish. 

Another way to combat saltiness is to incorporate something sweet into the mix. Just like Dr Pepper can be a welcome addition to baked beans (yes, really), adding a touch of brown sugar to beans will cut back the salt and add notes of sweetness that work well when combined with garlic and herbs. There aren't many ways to ruin canned beans, so once you've mastered adding just two ingredients to elevate the flavor, consider others that could enhance the dish and let your imagination run wild.