When the weather turns cold, few ingredients feel as comforting and filling as beans. Beans add protein, fibre and plenty of comfort to hearty stews or rich baked dishes. They’re affordable, versatile and perfect for slow-cooked recipes. Whether you’re craving a thick soup, a wholesome stew or a flavour-packed side dish, these recipes are made for winter.

1. Beans bunny chow

This hearty sugar bean bunny chow is packed with rich curry flavour and served in soft bread that soaks up every spoonful. Can't find unsliced bread? Try Woolies' mini loaves and make a mini version.

Beans bunny chow recipe

2. Samp-and-beans lamb curry

This recipe by Kim Bagley gives classic South African samp and beans a rich, comforting twist with tender lamb and warming curry flavours. This is a from-scratch situation: the beans are soaked overnight and cooked with the mutton to ensure maximum flavour, but you could also use canned beans to speed things up.

Samp-and-beans lamb curry recipe

3. Spanish-inspired baked beans

A rich tomato sauce, warming spices and hearty beans means this baked dish is full of bold flavour. Traditionally, it would have been cooked in a Mexican cazuela or clay pot, but a regular casserole dish will work, too. Serve with crusty bread.

Spanish inspired baked beans recipe

4. Butter beans with confit tomatoes

These baked beans are anything but ordinary. Cooked in a rich tomato sauce, this dish cries out for some toasted sourdough or a loaf of garlic bread for dunking.

Butter beans with confit tomatoes recipe

5. Butter bean cacio e pepe

This comforting twist on the Italian classic adds creamy butter beans to the pasta. With plenty of black pepper and a rich, cheesy sauce, it’s a simple yet satisfying dish that’s perfect for cosy winter meals. Plus, it's ready in 30 minutes flat.

Butter bean cacio e pepe recipe

6. Spiced black-eyed pea fritters

Crispy on the outside and soft in the middle, these spiced black-eyed pea fritters are packed with flavour. Serve them as a snack, starter, or light meal for a comforting bite on a cold winter's day. The beans need to be soaked overnight, but the actual prep is very quick.

Spiced black-eyed pea fritters recipe 

 7. Creamy green beans

Tender green beans coated in a rich, creamy sauce make this a simple but comforting winter side dish. It's full of flavour and easy to serve alongside hearty mains. Bonus: this dish can be prepared in advance and frozen, so it's great for meal-prepping, or to reduce the pressure at a dinner party.

Creamy green beans recipe

ALSO READ: 5 easy rainy day bakes to make with the kids this winter

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This content was created with AI assistance, however it was fact-checked, edited and ideated by actual human beings at TASTE.