We love beans at our house, so I was excited to use these protein packed and delicious legumes, and I got just what I wanted. This excellent cookbook includes dozens of new and old ways to use beans, as well as instructions on growing and harvesting them.

The early chapters cover basic cooking, ingredients, and varieties of beans, complete with photos of the beans; (who knew there were so many kinds?). There are recipes for appetizers and dips, basics, soups, salads, main dishes, and even a few desserts. Many of the recipes will be appealing to everyone, and they are written in the traditional manner with the ingredients listed first, followed by step-by-step instructions to insure success for both beginning and advanced cooks. The author has also added notes and tips at the beginning of each recipe that are helpful. The recipes vary in that there are some that are easy, and others that have a long list of ingredients and are more time consuming (worth it). The recipes have been gathered from all areas of the world, so there is something for everyone.

This cookbook is filled with beautiful, professional photographs of not only the various beans, but of many of the recipes. Unfortunately, many of the dishes are not pictured, and most of us want to see what the finished recipe should look like; this is the only negative to the cookbook.
All told, this is the only book on beans anyone will ever need. It is excellent.

Special thanks to NetGalley for supplying a review copy of this book.

This is a cookbook all about how to prepare different kinds of beans and bean dishes. The photos throughout are great! The recipes I'm most excited to try are Smitten Kitchen's Pizza Beans, Norman Rose Tavern's Black Bean Burger and Homemade Croutons. I would recommend this! Special Thank you to Steve Sando, Clarkson Potter/Ten Speed Press and NetGalley for allowing me to read a complimentary copy in exchange for an honest review.

This book is like the encyclopedia for beans. There are great descriptions of different types of beans all made from scratch along with recipes to bring out the best in each bean. What a wonderful book!

The book is described as “an authoritative guide to 50 bean varieties and how to cook them”.

I learnt a lot about different types of beans and enjoyed reading Steve’s back story. Unfortunately many of the beans are nit easily accessible - though maybe I will let some Scarlett Runners grow on next year and try the beans from them.

Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC.

I absolutely loved this book. I found their recipe for a basic pot of beans to be so amazing that I made it over and over. I can't get the wonderful range of types of beans that they feature in the book locally so I will definitely order from Rancho Gordo just to be able to try them. I look forward to being able to make many recipes from this book.

This book has a lot of information but I found it’s mostly about beans, spices etc. that aren’t available in my grocery store. They’re all specialty items. So not something I could use. The language used feels high-handed and snobbish. #TheBeanBook #NetGalley

First of all, this is a gorgeous book. Who knew beans could be so impressive!

Growing up, the only types of beans I would see at the farmer's markets where I live would be "basic white" beans and some type of cranberry beans. You could mayyybe find some butterbeans every now and then but they were not as common as the other two.

So, imagine my surprise and amazement when I got into gardening during the pandemic and discovered beans in all colours, shapes and sizes! I spent hours on seed catalogues all over the world and wanted to grow them all but the problem was, I didn't know what to do with them after harvest. I mean, I knew a recipe or two that utilized beans but you can only repeat them so many times before getting bored.

Well, this book definitely solved that problem! It was really fun to read and so inspiring. I wanted to jump into the kitchen try out all the recipes immediately. And the quality of the book was of course what we have come to love and expect from Ten Speed Press.

I received and e-arc through NetGallet, so thanks NetGalley and Ten Speed Press for this opportunity!

The Bean Book is really impressive. I had no idea so many varieties of beans expand I look forward to trying some of the heirloom bean varieties in the future. The recipes are unique and the k es I tried are delicious. The pictures are well done and stunningly presented. They definitely showcase each bean recipe and variety of bean. The history around the beans was interesting and I fully enjoyed this book. If you love beans this book is for you.

Oh I do love a bean or two and this recipe/cookbook is a wonderful way to get more beans on your menu. There are so many great recipes and ideas on using beans and I have and will be trying quite a few of these great recipes. I also love all the information of the different types of beans to buy and use and the information on cooking.

So many great ways of using beans will get you excited and interested in beans and how good they are for you and how good they taste in these great recipes. This is the book I have always wanted about beans and I will use it often and I highly recommend it. Yum!

Thank you NetGalley and Clarkson Potter/Ten Speed Press for giving me the opportunity to read and review this book.

Perfect for cozy and delicious meals! I have tried a few of the recipes and they are easy to follow and turn out great!

Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher of providing me with an e-arc of this book. My opinions are my own.

Typically I am on here to review fantasy and sci-fi novels. But the beans caught my attention, so I requested a cookbook thinking - yeh I could do with some more ideas on how to cook with beans,

This is actually the bible of beans.
A bean bible if you will. Perhaps an alternate title?
It informs you of the history of the beans, their origins, their uses and qualities. Then how to prepare them and store them etc....And then we get to the quintessential and wholesome recipes where beans are the absolute super stars in every dish.
And I should not be writing this before having breakfast, because now I am starving and I think a bean and egg dish is going to suffice.
Well done Mr. Sando, I would be proud to have such a stunning book amongst my cookbook collection. I will be gifting this to many people this Christmas and I can't wait to try this rendition of Pasta E. Fagiolo - see if tops the Nonnas.

I’m obsessed with The Bean Book. The photos are beautiful and I love the recipes which includes recipes from different regions and cultures. Even some bean desserts, which I have yet to try!

Get this book! You won’t regret it.


I received this book early from NetGalley for free. This did not affect my review in anyway.

I need to state right out that I am a longtime fan of Rancho Gordo beans. As a practiced home cook (and avid reader/collector of cookbooks), I have for years seen chefs reference the quality and taste of these beans. About eight years ago, I took the plunge and placed an order myself. I was not disappointed. Like so many, I spent a long time on the waiting list for the Rancho Gordo Bean Club, and just a few weeks ago, I got the nod. My first shipment arrived last week. And my family is celebrating, because these are the best beans we’ve found anywhere.

And the exceptional care Steve Sando takes with his Rancho Gordo beans translates into an exceptional cookbook in The Bean Book. It is written like a casual conversation with a friend, yet is very informative. Most importantly, every recipe I’ve tried (so far) is delicious and a hit with my family and friends. And it’s more than just recipes. The book includes: the history of beans and of Rancho Gordo, identification of 50 bean varieties, and a detailed recipe of cooking a basic pot with multiple heat sources. I’ve been using the pressure cooker version of that recipe for years now, and it works every time. On top of that, the book is beautiful – laid out by dish type with stunning photography.

Some recipes included were already family favorites, from Smitten Kitchen’s Pizza Beans to versions of Simple Hummus, Pan-Fried Garbanzos with Spices, and New Orleans Red Beans and Rice. We have fallen in love with the Italian-Style White Beans on Toast, Midnight Black Bean Soup, and Sarah Scott’s Napa Valley Cassoulet. And we have so many more on our list to try!

It is, of course, not necessary to purchase Rancho Gordo beans for these recipes. And the book makes that clear on every page. The reader simply benefits from the extensive knowledge of Steve and his team here. In summary, if you love to cook and eat beans, this book is absolutely one you’ll want on your shelf.

Many thanks to Ten Speed Press and NetGalley for providing this copy for review consideration. All opinions are my own.

Steve Sando and his Rancho Gordo bean company are legendary and known for the highest quality beans on the market. This is a gorgeous cookbook and will inspire you to use beans not just as a side dish, but also as the focus of your meal. I'm a longtime fan and member of the Rancho Gordo bean club - this book will find a special spot on my kitchen shelf. A must have for vegetarians and meat lover alike!

Thank you to NetGalley and Clarkson Potter/Ten Speed Press for this ARC.

Thank you NetGalley for the ARC!

Another slam dunk from Steve Sando from Rancho Gordo beans. I love his beans, and was THRILLED to get this ARC to learn even more about them from him - he does such a lovely job describing them, what makes them special, and their history. I cannot wait to try these recipes - based on prior books, they are phenomenal - and heartily recommend this to any bean fan!

Must love beans....

Seriously. I learned so much about beans in this book.
Heritage, beans of all types.
Then how to cook 'em.
Recommend.

I never thought I would know so much about beans, let alone learn different ways to eat them. Everything about this cookbook is phenomenal, from the recipes to the wonderful photos and tips on growing multiple varieties of heirloom beans. The Bean Book by Steve Sando is the only cookbook you will ever find when it comes to cooking almost any heirloom bean from seed to plate.

If you take a look at the Rancho Gordo website, it is an amazing source for beans, and this book is a great companion to the products offered. So many types of beans and great recipes for all of them. This book is a valuable resource for any bean eater! Recommended.

This book is very aesthetically pleasing and has lots of great information on beans and what to do with them. With lots of great recipes, some personal information on how Steve got into the bean business, and background on the different types of heirloom beans, this book offers a lot of bean lovers and also for people who have just never eaten beans that didn't come from a can. The pictures are beautiful and eye catching and the recipes are simple enough for anyone who wants to try one.

Thank you Ten Speed Press and NetGalley for the advanced digital copy in exchange for an honest review.

I’m a huge fan of Rancho Gordo. beans and couldn’t wait to get my hands on this book. It’s absolutely fantastic! It’s filled with beautiful photos of all the beans and recipes. I especially like the section devoted to many different types of beans complete with photos and recommended recipes to cook from the recipe section. This is a must buy for the bean lover in your life!