To Soak or Not to Soak?
• Split peas and lentils do not require soaking before cooking. • Beans and whole peas must be soaked before cooking. Always discard the soaking water. Soaking methods • A general rule of thumb is to use 3 cups of water for each 1 cup of dried beans or whole peas. Remember to sort and rinse the beans before soaking. • Quick Soak: Easy way of soaking beans for the same day as cooking. Bring to a rolling boil for 2 minutes. Remove from heat, cover and let stand for 1 hour. Discard water before cooking • Microwave Soak: Cover and microwave on high for 10-15 minutes. Let stand for 1 hour and discard the water before cooking. Overnight Soak: Will keep their shape better and have a more uniform texture. Soak beans overnight and discard the water before cooking. How to Cook Dried Legumes Preparing legumes is quite simple but it does take some extra time. Canned varieties can be used for convenience.
