Bean chip facts for kids
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Bean chips are crunchy snacks made mainly from beans! Think of them like regular potato or corn chips, but with beans as the main ingredient. They are often a healthier choice because they have more fiber and protein than many other types of chips.
You can find bean chips made from all sorts of beans, like pinto beans, black beans, and white beans. Sometimes, they even include brown rice. Some special kinds are even made from green beans! Bean chips are a popular snack food and taste great on their own or dipped in your favorite dips.
How Bean Chips Are Made
Bean chips can be made in a couple of ways: they can be deep-fried (cooked in hot oil) or baked in an oven. They are often seasoned with different spices to give them lots of flavor.
One common way to make them involves a few steps:
- First, beans are prepared, often by removing their outer skins and soaking them.
- Then, these beans are mixed with things like vegetable oil, salt, and something to make the mixture thick.
- This mix is then shaped into a soft dough.
- The dough is steamed, which helps it cook and firm up.
- After steaming, the dough is sliced into thin chip shapes.
- Finally, these slices are either fried or baked until they are crispy and delicious!
Green Bean Chips: A Special Kind
Green bean chips are a unique type of bean chip. They are often made by mixing fresh green beans with a little olive oil and seasonings. These are then spread on a baking pan and baked until they become super crisp.
Another way to make them involves a cool process called freeze-drying. This removes all the water from the green beans. Then, they might be cooked using a special method called vacuum-frying, which uses less oil and lower temperatures.
Green bean chips are a good snack option. For example, a small serving (about 30 grams) usually has around 130 calories, 4.5 grams of fat, and a good amount of fiber (about 5 grams).
Popular Bean Chip Brands
In countries like the United States, many companies make bean chips for people to buy in stores. They come in lots of different flavors! Some well-known brands include Beanfields Bean Chips, The Good Bean, Inc., and Beanitos. Some brands, like The Good Bean, Inc., even mix their bean chips with other healthy ingredients like sweet potato and quinoa for extra goodness.
