Slow Cooker Red Beans And Barley Low Fat Recipes

SLOW COOKER BEAN AND BARLEY STEW

Steps:

• Combine the broth, bean mix, salt, pepper, celery, carrots, garlic, onions, bay leaf, thyme and 2 cups water in a slow cooker. Cover and cook on low for 7 hours. Add the barley and, if the broth looks low, another cup of water. Cover and cook on low an additional 1 hour (8 hours total).
• Just before serving, stir in the spinach to wilt. Serve in a big bowl with toasted crusty bread or baguette.

SLOW COOKER BEAN AND BARLEY SOUP

Steps:

• Combine 6 cups of water, the beans, barley, Italian seasoning, sun-dried tomatoes, garlic, carrots, celery, leeks, tomatoes, 2 1/2 teaspoons salt and some pepper in a slow cooker insert. Cook on low for 8 hours. When ready to serve, stir in the spinach until it wilts. If the soup looks too thick, add a little more water. Divide evenly among six bowls.
• Garnish each bowl with 1 tablespoon grated Parmesan, basil, olive oil and a pinch of crushed red pepper. Drizzle some balsamic vinegar or lemon juice over the top.

SLOW COOKER RED BEANS AND BARLEY (LOW FAT)

Steps:

• Place all ingredients, in order listed, in slow cooker. Do not stir.
• Cover and cook on LOW for 7 hours.
• Stir and serve. Yields about 1 1/3 cups per serving.

VEGAN SLOW COOKER RED BEANS AND RICE

Steps:

• Heat the oil in a large (12-inch) skillet over medium. Add the onion, season with salt, and cook, stirring, until the onion is limp and translucent, 6 to 8 minutes. Add the celery and bell pepper and cook, stirring occasionally, until softened, 5 to 8 minutes. Add the chopped garlic, miso paste, smoked paprika, sweet paprika, onion powder, garlic powder, cayenne and sage, if using. Grind in a generous amount of black pepper and add 3/4 teaspoon salt. Stir to combine until the miso has dissolved, then remove from the heat and scrape the mixture into a 6- to 8-quart slow cooker. Add the beans, bay leaves, thyme and 6 cups water. Cook on high until the beans are very tender and creamy, about 7 hours.
• If your beans are not bubbling at all by the time they are done cooking, turn the heat up to high and let them bubble for about 10 minutes, to make them easier to digest.
• Before serving, add the soy sauce, and season to taste with salt and cayenne. Using a fork or the back of a spoon, mash some of the beans against the side of the slow cooker to make the mixture slightly creamy. (It will continue to thicken as it sits.) Discard the bay leaves and thyme sprigs. Top the beans with hot cooked rice and scallions; serve with hot sauce.

SLOW COOKER RED BEANS AND RICE

Steps:

• Heat the oil in a large (12-inch) skillet over medium. Add the onion, season with salt, and cook, stirring, until the onion is limp and translucent, 6 to 8 minutes. Add the celery and bell pepper and cook, stirring occasionally, until softened, 5 to 8 minutes. Add the chopped garlic, garlic powder, onion powder, paprika, cayenne and sage (if using); grind in a generous amount of black pepper and add 3/4 teaspoon salt. Stir well to combine all the ingredients, then remove from the heat and scrape the mixture into a 6- to 8-quart slow cooker.
• Add the beans, bay leaves, thyme, sausage, ham hock and 6 cups water. Cook on high until the beans are very tender and creamy, about 7 hours.
• If your beans are not bubbling at all by the time they are done cooking, turn the heat up to high and let them bubble for about 10 minutes, to make them easier to digest.
• Before serving, add salt or cayenne to taste. Using a fork or the back of a spoon, mash some of the beans against the side of the slow cooker to make the mixture slightly creamy. (It will continue to thicken as it sits.) Discard the bay leaves and thyme sprigs; you can pick the meat off the ham hock if you like. Top the beans with hot cooked rice and scallions; serve with hot sauce.