Beans & Lentils

Wholesale Lentils and Beans in Bulk for Cooking, Restaurant, Mixes

What is a legume? The word refers to plants that bear fruit in pods, for example fava beans which have to be taken from the shell and then peeled. The most recognizable of the legumes is the pea pod. Other legumes are soy nuts, black beans, chickpeas (or garbanzo beans), edamame, lentils, kidney beans, lima beans, green beans, sugar snap peas and yes, peanuts. For the most part, the outer pod of these vegetables is not eaten. At OliveNation we offer many varieties of dried legumes for sale in bulk. Beans and lentils are perfect for professional and commercial use because they offer superior shelf stability. Many of our beans and lentils come in 10, 25, or 50-pound packages that are ideal for restaurant, bakery, foodservice, hospitality, and manufacturing applications. Beans and lentils can replace meat in vegan and vegetarian recipes, making them a great choice for specialty diet dishes and better-for-you applications such as plant-based burgers and other meat substitutes.

It is important to remember that legumes contain many nutrients that people who follow a strictly vegetarian or vegan diet may be lacking. These nutrients include protein, zinc, fiber and folate (a water soluble B-vitamin that occurs naturally in certain foods, including legumes. Beans and lentils are a superior choice for adding protein as well as a staple in many international cuisines. Because dried legumes are minimally processed, they are a wonderful choice for restaurants, caterers, foodservice, and manufacturers creating Clean Label products and recipes.

Legumes are incredibly versatile ingredients. They're great for classic dishes such as stuffed peppers, refried beans, and traditional Southern-style rice and beans. Beans and lentils are popular for use in soups and stews, which they can also be used to thicken after long cooking. They are great for making hummus and bean dips. Dried legumes are ideal for commercial mix manufacturers, and work beautifully with Dehydrated Vegetables to create ready-to-make soup, stew, and dip mixes.

Preparing dried beans takes some planning. Most varieties of beans need to be soaked for 8 hours or more before cooking. Then they can take more than 45 minutes to cook. You can reduce the soaking time with the quick-soak method. You cover the beans with water, bring to a boil over high heat, and let them boil for 1 minute. Then remove the beans from the heat and cover with a lid. Let them soak in the warm water for 1 hour, and then cook as usual. You can speed up the cooking time of beans with a pressure cooker.

Our selection of dried beans and lentils makes it easy for restaurants, caterers, foodservice businesses, and mix manufacturers to ensure they're using top quality ingredients at affordable wholesale prices. Home cooks and bakers will love these long-lasting, versatile ingredients as well!