Bean and Legume

When your beans are tender, take them off the heat and focus on the cooking liquid, doctoring it with good olive oil, salt, and pepper, tasting and seasoning it until the liquid itself is straight-up delicious.

Try these tossed in slaw, stirred into soup, or fried with roasted veg to make fritters.

Caldo verde means "green broth" in Portuguese, and it is Portugal's unofficial national dish. This beautiful green soup is technically a hot smoothie, since its many nutritious greens are pureed together in a blender. Chickpeas are an important ingredient here, too. Fiber- and protein-rich, they've been shown in studies to help people lose weight. For added protein, top with 4 ounces of shredded chicken or add 2 dozen clams to the broth.

I used to be put off by poaching chicken as I feared it was more complicated than my simple fried version. But it's actually much easier, because while the chicken poaches you can prepare the rest of the food. These days I often poach 3 or 4 chicken breasts at a time, then keep them in the fridge so I can toss them into salads over the following days. Poaching really helps to keep the moisture in the meat, so the end result is much more enjoyable than dried, overcooked chicken.

This hearty meatless loaf combines earthy wild mushrooms with classic falafel spices.

Created by Pamela Reed of Brooklyn Farm Girl.

Dukkah—a rich nut and spice blend—is easy to make and lends a zesty kick to this gorgeous crisp salad.

This sauce, inspired by Spanish romesco, uses cherry tomatoes, which are usually the best-tasting type in the market this time of year.

You're going to want to keep making this wholesome vegetarian soup all winter long.

This soup is a terrific choice for those over sixty, as it's abundant in nutrients one especially needs later in life. These include healthy plant protein (older adults are prone to protein insufficiency), fiber, vitamin K, potassium, lysine to aid in calcium absorption, and folate to help reduce homocysteine levels, which are a major risk factor for heart disease. And of course, all soups are soft and so are a favorite for anyone with dental difficulties.

This delicious and flavorful slow cooker chili comes together very easily. It only takes about 10 minutes to prep the dish, and you let the slow cooker do the rest of the work for you. This chili is one of my favorite things to eat after a long day's work! Created by Lisa Lin of Healthy Nibbles and Bits.

Recipe courtesy of Bon Appetit Executive Chef Mary Nolan

Make your next party a falafel party with this irresistible recipe.

Cozy up to this easy, creamy, 15-minute pasta, brightened up with fragrant lemon zest and refreshing parsley.

An exciting twist on green beans, this dish features an easy sauce made with vanilla, white wine and butter.