what you should know

Though they are not exactly noble, white beans can amount to quite a lot in this crazy, mixed-up world.

For example, during the Hundred Years' War, some crafty French villagers were holed up, surrounded by the English. Using white beans as a base, they made a stew with their remaining rations and the result became known as cassoulet. (Also, a chicken stew with white beans was said to have been the favorite meal of Count Dracula.)

bean town Like all legumes, white beans are high in fiber, versatile and widespread. Still, nothing special enough to use as a mascot or a statue.

dry vs. canned While we love the variety and flavor of long-cooked dry beans, we also appreciate that canned beans are some of the best canned food products out there. When you're hurting for time, they're a fine substitute for dry beans. (You should always rinse canned beans, though.)

cannellini vs. great northern vs. navy All three are sold as "white beans." What's the difference between them?

"hill of beans" The phrase, immortalized by Bogart at the end of Casablanca, is used to describe something of little or no value. This story about a patented legume, however, shows how much a bean can be worth. 

what you need

Show us a man who gets excited about a can opener and we'll give him a hobby. Still, being a lefty who has sliced many fingers while prying the tops off of canned beans, Chip really does delight in using the Kuhn Rikon Safety Lid Lifter. True to its title, it lifts the lid right off. No prying needed, and no awkward hand movements.

Go buy two excellent new books by bean-loving food bloggers who inspire Cookthink: Super Natural Cooking, by Heidi Swanson, and Gluten-Free Girl, by Shauna James Ahern.

In Maya Angelou's Hallelujah! The Welcome Table, the writer remembers her most important cassoulet in a chapter called "M.F.K. Fisher and a White Bean Feast."

what you do

You can combine almost anything with white beans and burrito and come out okay. This broccoli and white bean burrito is a good option for reluctant broccoli eaters.

It's a lot of pale food on one plate, but we promise you won't care when you take a bite of these Brussels sprouts with white beans and pecorino.

A simple white bean ragout with lemongrass is an unbaked and vaguely Southeast Asian take on Boston baked beans.

Turkish white bean salad is a classic side dish with any number of variations. You might find a recipe with honey or dill or sumac or pomegranate seeds. We like it with a hint of Za'atar.

You have 10 minutes to throw something together before heading out. This tuna, white bean and red pepper salad is high in protein and fiber (not to mention delicious).

If you need to remind yourself that life can be spectacular, make this pesto pizza with tomatoes, white beans and goat cheese.