Legumes can be yum!

Common legumes are chickpeas, kidney beans, red or brown lentils, butter beans and cannellini beans. Haricot beans are a type of legume commonly used in canned baked beans. They are all low in fat, and high in fibre and protein, so make a wholesome and filling addition to any meal.

Top 6 tips for easy ways to eat more legumes:

• Bored with mashed potato? Try mashing a can of cannellini beans or butter beans with a little olive oil, lemon juice, salt and pepper.
• Add canned beans or chick peas to your favourite salads (or try our tasty bean salad recipe).
• Make easy dips using canned chick peas (have you tried our kumara hummus or beetroot dip recipes?).
• Add canned kidney beans to your favourite casserole.
• Dried red lentils are the quickest lentils to cook – simply rinse them with cold water, then boil for 20 minutes.
• Adding lentils to mince dishes such as bolognaise and lasagne is a low-cost way to bulk out the recipe and feed more people.