People planning a raclette meal for a group
You want to adjust the amount of pulses to suit your group and can prepare dried pulses in advance.
Who are these options suitable for?
People entertaining at the last minute
You’d prefer tinned or pre-cooked pulses when there’s no longer time in your plans for soaking and cooking dried ones.
Guests who are mindful of what’s in their meal
You want to know how a prepared dish is seasoned, check its allergen information and choose a quantity that suits your usual habits.
What should you look for?
First decide whether you have time to cook dried pulses, then choose between a plain option and one that’s already seasoned.
| What to consider | What to check | Who is this for? |
|---|---|---|
| Quantity for your group | Check the weight of a dried product. For tinned options, also check the drained weight if it’s given. | I’m having several people over and want to adjust the portions I serve. This would be the top priority for around 40% of consumers. |
| Preparation time | Read the instructions for your chosen product: E.Leclerc recommends soaking its dried white beans overnight, then cooking them in a pan for around 1 hour 30 minutes. | I’m planning the meal for today and want a side that doesn’t take long to prepare; around 30% of consumers would prioritise this. |
| Recipe and seasoning | Choose a plain option if you want to season it yourself; check the ingredients of any ready-made dish. | I want to decide how to season it to suit the other dishes on the table. This flexibility would be the top priority for around 20% of consumers. |
| Tolerance and labelling | Check the ingredients and allergen information for each product, particularly for a prepared dish. | Some guests don’t often eat pulses or need to check allergen information before serving themselves; this would be the top priority for around 10% of consumers. |
Two mistakes to avoid
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Buying dried white beans for an impromptu meal
E.Leclerc’s instructions for its dried white beans recommend soaking them overnight before cooking, so they’re not suitable for serving straight away.
If you can’t start preparing them in advance, choose an option that’s already cooked and check the serving instructions.
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Serving a large quantity of pulses straight away
Manger Bouger says that eating too much fibre can cause bloating or intestinal pain.
If your guests don’t usually eat many pulses, offer a small amount alongside the other dishes.
Brands and retailers to consider
Carrefour
Carrefour offers Carrefour Le Marché dried white beans and Carrefour Classic’ tinned white beans.
- Two formats to consider, depending on how much preparation time you have.
- Check the ingredients and usable quantity of tinned beans separately from those of a pack of dried beans.
E.Leclerc
The Notre Jardin range includes split peas, green lentils and dried lingot beans, available in 500 g packs.
- Several varieties of dried pulses in the same pack size.
- E.Leclerc recommends soaking its dried white beans overnight, so you’ll need to plan ahead for cooking.
Auchan
Auchan’s range includes dried pulses for cooking, such as 500 g packs of green lentils, as well as quick-cook pouches.
- Dried and quick-cook options to suit different meal plans.
- Preparation instructions and ingredients vary depending on the product you choose.
Lidl
Lidl’s Goldensun range includes dried organic lentils, split peas, white beans and chickpeas.
- Several varieties of dried pulses to choose from.
- Check the cooking instructions for your chosen variety before planning your meal.
Aldi
The range includes dried lentils and white beans, as well as tinned pulses.
- Dried and tinned options for different kinds of preparation.
- Check the variety and format of the product you choose.
Bjorg
Bjorg offers a 250 g organic ready-made lentil and carrot dish, which the brand says is ready in two minutes.
- A pre-cooked dish for quick serving.
- This is a ready-made dish, not plain lentils; check its ingredients and allergen information.
Joybuy products
Products related to this topic will be available soon.
Frequently asked questions
How much dried white beans should you allow per person?
E.Leclerc recommends 80 g of dried white beans per person in its preparation advice. This applies to the dried product, so adjust the quantity to suit the rest of the meal and your guests.
Can dried white beans bought on the day be served with raclette?
Yes, if you have enough time: E.Leclerc recommends soaking its dried white beans overnight, then cooking them for around 1 hour 30 minutes in a pan or 40 minutes in a pressure cooker. For a quicker meal, consider tinned or pre-cooked options instead.
What can you serve if your guests don’t often eat pulses?
Offer a small amount of pulses alongside the other dishes. Manger Bouger says that eating too much fibre can cause bloating or intestinal pain.
What should you check on a pouch of ready-made lentils?
Read the ingredients and allergen information for the specific product. Bjorg says its lentil and carrot dish may contain gluten, soya and celery; this information doesn’t apply to other products.