Substitutes For Kidney Beans
One of the best hubbies any one could have is cooking. This is especially because you get to experience and enjoy the different kinds of recipes available from different countries around the world. The fun part of cooking could quickly come to an end when you lack certain ingredients while cooking, that is when substitutions come in to play. In this article, we would be sharing with you the best substitutes for kidney beans so that when next you are in the kitchen and you run out of kidney beans you are well armed with the perfect substitution for kidney beans from our list of kidney beans substitutes that will give your meal the same awesome taste it was supposed to have.
If you have a recipe that you want to make, and you notice it has red kidney beans as an ingredient, well, if you do not have any with you, I’m sure you’d be thinking hard asking yourself; what is the best substitute for kidney beans?
Running out of ingredients has the chances to ruin the chances of you making awesome recipes that is why it is pertinent we have this article for budding cooks and experts to learn from.
Before we get into today’s article, let’s talk a little about red kidney beans. Red kidney beans, also known as common kidney beans they go by different names depending on the culture and people. They are a variety of common beans that are meaty and have a lovely flavor. As seen in its name, red kidney beans are shaped like the human kidney and it is quite large.Â
Over the years, red kidney beans have been used a lot by different people to make bean burgers, tacos, bean salads, vegetable soup, chili, baked beans, beans & rice, the list continues on depending on the culture and the kind of foods they typically eat. Kidney beans are known to go exceedingly well with other recipes that is why, when you run out of it, it becomes very important to have some kidney beans substitutes ready to replace them or you can’t make a good number of meals that are known to contain kidney beans.
Now, let us get right into some of the ingredients you can use to replace red kidney beans so you can go back to making that recipe. Keep in mind that the kidney beans substitutes do not taste 100% like red kidney beans but they equally taste fantastic and should get the job done.
Substitution For Kidney Beans
 Pinto Beans
When looking for a substitute for kidney beans, do not look further than pinto beans as it is definitely one of the best ingredients you can use to substitute.
Pinto beans are another variation of common beans so it is kind of similar to red kidney beans. It is one of the most popular beans by crop production in some parts of Mexico and the United States. This makes it readily available to consumers who need it. Surprisingly, pinto beans are a common filling used for tacos or burritos in Mexican cuisine.
As for nutrition, pinto beans are not lacking as it has many essential nutrients that the human body needs to consume. It is rich in protein, manganese, and phosphorus. Also, it is a great source of folate and dietary fiber.Â
Some studies even show that pinto beans can help to reduce the levels of both HDL (high-density lipoprotein) and LDL (low-density lipoprotein) cholesterol.
If a recipe calls for red kidney beans as an ingredient and sadly, you do not have it at home, you can pinto beans instead as it is a good enough substitute for kidney beans. It will get the work done with ease so you don’t need to keep off making that delicious recipe.
 Anasazi beans
Anasazi beans are another type of bean that is available and it has quite some unique attributes when compared to other types of beans you’ve seen growing up.Â
It is similar to a small pinto bean in terms of size and shape but it has a different color. When looking at the Anasazi beans, you’d notice it has a deep red color with cream-colored speckles on them. When cooked, the color changes from that to light pink which makes it quite unique.Â
They have a mildly sweet taste with a texture that is similar to meat.
Also, Anasazi beans are high in nutrients the body needs like protein, dietary fiber, and other micronutrients. These beans are also high in lectin content which helps to reduce cancer risks. It has useful minerals like folate, potassium, iron, manganese, and phosphorus. It is also known to help with controlling blood sugar levels as well as weight management to regulate diabetes. Also, Anasazi beans are known to allow the body to absorb more nutrients and also improve digestive health.Â
This is another good ingredient that can be used in place of red kidney beans when making any lovely recipe. It is high in nutrients and also tastes quite good so you shouldn’t have any issues.
 Pink beans
Also known as Santa Maria pinquitos, Pink beans are small beans with an oval shape and a pale pink to brown color. In some regios, pink beans are commonly known as chilli beans.
Pink beans are known to have a semi-sweet taste with a meaty, smooth, and powder-like texture. It can be bought in supermarkets or stores that sell other beans and it is available either canned or dried.
When compared to red kidney beans, pink beans are quite similar as they have close to the same soak time and cook time. Pink beans is known to have a soak time of about 4 to 8 hours with a cook time of another 50 to 69 minutes while red kidney beans has a soak time of about 6 to 8 hours with a cook time of 60 to 65 minutes.Â
Pink beans are also high in useful nutrients that the body needs like protein, dietary fiber, folate, manganese, and many more.
Pink beans are another good enough kidney beans substitute that you can use in place of red kidney beans when you are making any recipe.Â
 Cranberry beans
Cranberry beans are another variation of common beans and it is also known as borlotti bean or rosecoco bean or saluggia bean. It originates from Colombia in South America and it is now a well-known ingredient in many other places around the world.
Cranberry beans are a bit brown in color with red or magenta speckles. It has a medium to large size and it has a mildly sweet and nutty taste with a very creamy feel when eaten.Â
Nutrition-wise, cranberry beans are not lacking as they are packed with all the useful minerals and nutrients that the normal red kidney beans have. It comes high in protein and minerals like sodium. It is also high in dietary fiber which helps to improve human digestive health.Â
When it comes to substituting for red kidney beans, cranberry bean is a top choice for you to use when making any recipe. It has been proven to be a good ingredient in recipes that call for red kidney beans.Â
 Adzuki beans
Another top alternative you can use in place of red kidney beans when making any recipe is Adzuki beans.
Adzuki beans are also known as red beans or azuki beans. It is a small-sized bean that is usually red in color. Sometimes, the color seems to be black, white, gray, and other varying patterns.
These beans are known to taste quite good also as it has a slightly sweet and nutty feel when eaten. It is used sometimes to make taco bowls, soups, and many other meals.Â
Adzuki beans take around the same time to soak and cook as compared to red kidney beans so they should slot in perfectly when cooking. Also, it has the same substitute ratio so you do not need lesser or more quantities.
As for nutrients, Azuki beans are high in protein, potassium, iron, magnesium, calcium, vitamin B6 and dietary fiber.
 Cannellini beans
Originated in Italy, Cannellini beans are a variety of common beans that have a kidney-like shape with their ends being a bit more squarish in shape. It also has a creamy white color and when cooked, it has a slightly sweet flavor and a more nutty texture.
When dried, cannellini beans have a soak time of about 5 hours and they should be cooked for about 60 to 90 minutes which is still close to the time needed for red kidney beans. It also provides close to the same nutrients that you get when you go for red kidney beans.
As for nutrition, cannellini beans are high in dietary fiber, sodium, protein, calcium, and iron. It helps to lower blood sugar levels as well as reduce blood pressure. It helps to fight diseases and also increases body metabolism.
If a recipe calls for red kidney beans, you can easily use cannellini beans instead. It proves to be a great substitute and fits in most meals perfectly.
 Black beans
Black beans are another beans known to be one of the best substitutes for kidney beans when you are making any recipe. Both of them(red kidney beans and black beans) are quite similar as they have basically the same shape with red kidney beans being a bit larger.
Black beans are another variety of the popular common beans. It has a mildly sweet flavor when cooked and eaten but is not as sweet as red kidney beans. It is rich in nutrients like dietary fiber, protein, calcium, iron, manganese, and other useful minerals.
When using in place of red kidney beans, it has the same substitute ratio as you are to use the same size of black beans for the same size of red kidney beans.
As a cook myself, I know it feels opening containers for my cooking ingredients only to notice one is missing or I have run out of it. It gets more devastating when it is an ingredient as important as the red kidney beans. As you already know from the article above, the red kidney beans goes with a lot of meals, so running out of it essential means running out of those special meals. It is this feeling that propelled me to put together this list of best substitute for kidney beans.
I’ll be answering the most frequently asked questions about red kidney beans substitutes in the following section, this is because there are some ingredients cooks are not sure of whether they could substitute for kidney beans or not. I’ll answer these questions so you do not have to worry anymore about it.
Frequently Asked Questions About Kidney Beans Substitutes
What is a good substitute for kidney beans?
The black beans is a good substitute for kidney beans because they’re almost the same size and shape and they have the same ratio when cooking. You can use one cup of black beans to substitute for one cup of kidney beans.
Can I use cannellini beans instead of kidney beans?
Yes, you can use Cannellini beans instead of kidney beans because Cannellini beans is a great substitute for kidney beans known to have similar shape as the kidney beans and high in dietary fiber, sodium, protein, calcium, and iron.
Can I substitute pinto beans for kidney beans?
Yes, you can substitute pinto beans for kidney beans due to the similarity they have and the nutritious value pinto beans possess. Pinto beans brings a different kind of variety in tastes when substituting for kidney beans.
Can you use baked beans instead of kidney beans in chili?
You can use baked beans instead of kidney beans in your chili if you run out of kidney beans, due to the difference created from processing there might be slight texture difference and taste difference but baked beans also gives a slight sweet taste to chili.
Do you need kidney beans for chili?
Yes, you need kidney beans for chili as kidney beans is known to be the natural ingredient for chili but if you’ve runout of kidney beans there are substitutes for kidney beans in chili you could consider as seen above, some of them are: pink beans, baked beans and more above.
Can you use chickpeas instead of kidney beans in chilli?
Chickpeas are not very excellent at substituting for kidney beans in chilli, this is due to the very different taste and feeling it possess but you could either choose any of the numerous substitutes above or try grilling your chickpeas a little to bring it closer to feeling and tasting like kidney beans.
Do cannellini beans taste like kidney beans?
No, cannellini do not taste like kidney beans because they have a nuttier and earthy flavor unlike kidney beans that has a slightly sweet flavor. These two tastes are quite different.
Are cannellini beans just white kidney beans?
Yes, cannellini beans are also known as white kidney beans and sometimes they are called Italian kidney beans.
Which is better kidney beans or pinto beans?
Between kidney beans and pinto none is better than the other especially as they are known to be good substitutes for each other. They are just good for different kinds of recipes.
What type of beans are best for chili?
The best type of beans for chili is the red kidney beans, it even gets much better when the red kidney beans has been dried. Most people prefer the red kidney beans in chili over any kind of beans.
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