Cooking with pulses/
6 warming Nigel Slater recipes that put pulses in a starring role

As winter takes hold in the Northern hemisphere, it’s a great time to start thinking about some warming, hearty dishes to help you stay cozy!          

Pulses are a welcome and nutritious staple during any month but being particularly delicious in a soup or stew makes them a must-have ingredient for any wintery recipe. They certainly fulfil the cold weather checklist of plentiful, low-cost, delicious foods (creating dishes with enough leftovers for the next day’s lunch, of course!) 

One chef who makes the most of pulses in his cooking is Nigel Slater, a long-time lover of beans, lentils and peas and even responsible for CEO of Bold Bean Co. Amelia Christie-Miller’s self-proclaimed obsession with beans. His easygoing approach and passion for uncomplicated, seasonal dishes and quality ingredients mean anyone and everyone can have a go at cooking something new. With a recipe archive of fabulous pulse-based dishes spanning back to the early 2000s, the only trouble you’ll have is choosing one to cook! 

To help you narrow down the choice, we’ve rounded up some of Nigel’s heartiest dishes that put pulses in a starring role, which will fit snugly into both an inflation-impacted budget and those cozy December evenings. 

Butter Bean and Mushroom CasseroleCasseroles are a firm favourite for solo cooks or those looking to feed a winter horde, as alterations and substitutions can easily be made to allow for time restraints and portion size. This particular recipe is fantastic for the colder months because of its warming flavours and easy preparation. The butter bean’s ability to absorb herbs and flavors adds to this simple recipe's appeal.

Spiced Lentil Soup with CoconutThis calming, aromatic soup will bring vibrance to any dark evening, with spices that will instantly warm you up. Soups made from lentils are sure to leave you feeling full but certainly not too weighed down for an evening winter walk. This recipe is also extremely pulse friendly, trying it with haricot beans instead of lentils comes highly recommended by the cook himself.

Cannellini Bean and Sweet Potato Pie

This is a great meal for the colder months because it happily withstands bean substitutions (though cannellini bean and sweet potato are a winning combination and the perfect pair for this particular recipe). This is one of those pies that Nigel describes as tasting even better the next day, making it a bonus 2-for-1 meal! The seasoning of thyme and rosemary leaves give it a particularly rustic aroma and moreish taste.

Macaroni and Chickpeas with a Tomato Sauce
Another delicious, family friendly recipe, the combination of pasta and chickpeas is sure to fill you up. The addition of fried onion, green chilli, and parsley make for an irresistible flavor that’ll have you cooking this again and again. 

Butter Bean and Chorizo Casserole
This spicy casserole is comfort food personified and is made even richer by its red wine simmer and passata sauce. Nigel describes it as perfect for autumn, but we think it’s the kind of dish that can warm you up all year round! 

Lentil, Potato and Spinach Cottage Pie
Cottage Pie is a traditional British dish that usually contains minced beef but in this version, the meat is swapped out for a winning combination of lentil and spinach. This pie starts off life as a mirepoix, known to most as the base of many well-tried and successful dishes. If you’ve made a traditional pie before, you’ll be off to a great start with this one!

These recipes really inspire the imagination and encourage us all to mix it up when it comes to our classic favorites. Nigel Slater is one of many astute cooks and chefs that recognize the versatility, magical marination properties and delicious, satisfying tastes and textures of pulses and, for that, we salute him!