What Can I Do With All These Canned Green Beans?

I go to an American Romanian Orthodox Church, and on certain days we follow a strict vegan diet—no dairy, meat, or seafood. Sometimes no oil either, but we’re allowed coconut oil (just not olive oil). My neighbor gave me a lot of canned green beans, and I’m looking for recipes that aren’t too plain. I know the usual Thanksgiving casserole is an option, but they aren’t fans of anything with vegan dairy substitutes. Any ideas?

You could try adding them straight out of the can to a green salad. Just make sure you include something crunchy, like carrots, celery, or raw cauliflower, to balance the texture.

I like mixing canned green beans into lentil pasta. I use a recipe from a plant-based website, just leave out the olive oil. Growing up, my mom would toss them into Hamburger Helper :joy:.

You could also try Greek green beans with tomatoes—it’s a classic.

Honestly, I think canned green beans ruin the taste. Fresh ones are so much better.

Hayden said:
Honestly, I think canned green beans ruin the taste. Fresh ones are so much better.

I agree, fresh is the best, then frozen. Canned is a last resort for me.

Ellis said:

Hayden said:
Honestly, I think canned green beans ruin the taste. Fresh ones are so much better.

I agree, fresh is the best, then frozen. Canned is a last resort for me.

Frozen veggies are bad too, in my opinion.

@Nuri
It depends on the brand. Some are flash-frozen and taste great, but others get freezer burn and are awful.

Here’s a couple of recipes you could tweak:

  1. Minimalist Baker’s Vegan Green Bean Casserole: Use coconut oil instead of butter and veggie stock instead of almond milk.

  2. Brand New Vegan’s Green Beans: Maybe mix in some fresh or frozen green beans to help with the texture.

@Avi
I made Minimalist Baker’s casserole for Thanksgiving, and it was a hit! I bet it would still work with canned beans.

Try this: Heat up a pan, add some coconut oil, and fry the green beans until they get a little charred. Add a pinch of salt and pepper—simple and tasty.

Peyton said:
Try this: Heat up a pan, add some coconut oil, and fry the green beans until they get a little charred. Add a pinch of salt and pepper—simple and tasty.

They mentioned no olive oil or vegan butter, so this might not work.

Have you tried mancare de fasole verde? It’s a Romanian green bean stew and works well for fasting. Or you could toss them into a ciorba (soup). Sometimes, I just cook them with garlic and spices—it’s simple but works.

How about green bean almondine? You could use coconut oil instead of butter.

You could make a bean salad! Combine the green beans with canned chickpeas, kidney beans, chopped tomatoes, onions, and cooked rice or quinoa. Toss it with some lemon juice, salt, and pepper. It’s simple but really tasty.

I like to throw canned green beans into lentil soup. It works really well!

You could try making Alton Brown’s green bean casserole but swap the cream for blended raw cashews and water.

Lyle said:
You could try making Alton Brown’s green bean casserole but swap the cream for blended raw cashews and water.

They said no faux dairy, though.

Canned green beans work great in fried rice! Add onions, garlic, carrots, and maybe water chestnuts or fried tofu if you’re feeling fancy.

Try fasolakia (Greek green beans). Here’s a recipe: Use less oil, canned tomatoes, and a lot of fresh oregano and parsley. It’s delicious!

What about adding them to a pasta primavera? You could also try stir-frying them or adding them to vegetable soup. Maybe even make a green bean curry or use them in wraps. Lots of options!