Mashed White Beans

An unexpected and even elegant side dish (I love that it can also be served cold, as a dip). You can make this with leftover cooked beans, canned beans, or frozen beans—in which case it will take 10 minutes—but if you cook dried beans this way, with these seasonings, they’ll be sensational.

Other legumes you can prepare this way: chickpeas (allow for longer cooking time), flageolets.