Simple Boiled Beans with Salt
Simple Boiled Beans with Salt is a foundational, minimalist dish consisting of dried legumes—most commonly navy beans, great northern beans, or pinto beans—cooked in water until tender and seasoned solely with salt. It is a staple preparation found in kitchens across the globe, from American Southern cuisine to European and Latin American home cooking, valued for its simplicity and ability to showcase the bean's natural flavor.
🍽️ Nutrition at a glance
This dish is an excellent source of plant-based protein and complex carbohydrates, with virtually no fat. A single serving provides substantial dietary fiber and is rich in key minerals like iron, potassium, and folate, with a calorie count that is moderate and highly satiating.
Nutrition breakdown
| Calories | 255 kcal |
| Protein | 15 g |
| Carbs | 45 g |
| Fat | 1 g |
| Fiber | 11 g |
| Sugar | 0.5 g |
| Sodium | 400 mg |
| Folate (B9) | 156 mcg |
| Iron | 3.9 mg |
| Potassium | 595 mg |
| Magnesium | 68 mg |
| Phosphorus | 197 mg |
| Thiamine (B1) | 0.3 mg |
| Zinc | 1.9 mg |
| Manganese | 0.7 mg |
Per 1 cup (179 g) · estimated, varies by recipe
💡 What's interesting
Culturally, this humble preparation is the essential first step for countless iconic dishes worldwide, from American baked beans to French cassoulet. Nutritionally, the simple act of boiling and salting makes the beans' nutrients more bioavailable while the high fiber and protein content make it a powerful food for sustained energy and digestive health.
