
Chicken and beans have always been known as great sources of protein as well as other vitamins and minerals.
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However, it is obvious that they are completely different from each other as one is meat and the other is a vegan ingredient.
So what will be a better choice for you and can we interchange them in cooking?
Let’s unravel these questions by reading our article below.
What are beans?
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Beans belong to the family Fabaceae which also includes other plants like peas or peanuts that produce seeds inside pods.
They are a type of legume vegetables that are a staple in many traditional cuisines all over the world.
Beans are one of the oldest cultivated crops, dating back thousands of years ago.
They provide a rich source of vegan protein and nutrition at a low cost and don’t require much water or fertilizer like corn or soybeans.
Beans are great to add to your diet, especially those who want to lose some weight because they still offer you sufficient energy, fiber, iron, and vitamins while being low in fat and contain no cholesterol.
They also reduce the risk of heart disease, diabetes, stroke, cancer, or kidney stones.
The taste of beans varies slightly between each kind of bean (red beans, black beans, black-eyed peas, kidney beans, lima beans, or pinto beans).
However, in general, they have a mildly sweet, nutty, and rich taste.
What is chicken?
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Chicken is a popular food and one of the top choices of meat in many cuisines.
Chicken can come from any breed of poultry with a slight difference in their tastes and textures.
However, chicken is generally tender and mildly sweet.
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One of the reasons why people tend to prefer chicken over red meat is that poultry meat contains less saturated fat and cholesterol.
Which are the main enemy of our heart disease, stroke, diabetes, or even cancer.
While still provide us with sufficient protein and many essential nutrients like phosphorus, potassium, folate, selenium, vitamin B12, vitamin B6, iron, zinc, copper, and niacin.
Chicken is also favored because of its versatility.
It can be cooked in different ways, such as deep-frying, baking, grilling, roasting, broiling, steaming, braising, or boiling.
The resulting dish works well with different kinds of side dishes like salads, rice, pasta, or toast and sauces like chili sauce, cheese sauce, mayo, or ketchup.
What are the differences between beans vs chicken?
Beans and chicken are obviously two separated things with numerous differences in many criteria.
The comparison table below will break down these differences into pieces so that you can easily compare these two staple ingredients:
Comparison | Beans | Chicken |
Type | The seeds of flowering plant family Fabaceae | The meat of any breed of chicken |
Appearance | Small (about three to eight inches), flat or round, various colors (green, red, yellow, purple, black) | Mostly light pink flesh, bright yellow skin (except for black chicken that is solid black from the inside out) |
Texture | Grainy, hard when raw, and soft when cooked | Soft when touched, tender if properly cooked |
Taste | Nutty, earthy | Meaty, mildly sweet |
Nutrient value | Higher in fiber, have no fat, sodium, and cholesterol | Higher in protein |
Common use | Simmered, fried, baked | Fried, baked, roasted, grilled, boiled, steamed, braised, broiled |
Cooking time | Longer | Shorter |
Cost | Cheaper | More expensive |
What are the similarities between beans vs chicken?
Despite many differences between beans and chicken, these two cooking ingredients also share many similarities, as listed below:
1. Beans and chicken are rich sources of protein and nutrients
Beans and chicken are both healthy for us.
They are rich sources of protein and many essential nutrients like potassium, B-vitamins, folate, magnesium, and phosphorus.
These substances can benefit our health in many ways and are especially good for our heart health.
2. Beans and chicken are both versatile
Another similarity between chicken and beans is that they are both versatile ingredients.
That means you can cook them in different ways, such as boiling, baking, or frying.
3. Beans and chicken are staples in many cuisines
Beans and chicken also share the popularity.
They are staple ingredients in many kitchens all over the world.
For example, beans and chicken are prominent in South Asian cooking like Indian because pork and beef are forbidden here, Middle Eastern, American, or Mediterranean cuisines.
Which one is better?
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There are many people who prefer to be vegan and they should not feel like their only option for protein is meat.
Beans offer a great alternative that also provides plenty of other vitamins and minerals besides vegan protein while being an affordable food.
So if you’re looking for something different in your diet, beans may be worth considering the next time you go grocery shopping.
You can combine with a lean cut of chicken that is baked or grilled instead of being deep-fried to have a more flavorful meal without sacrificing your health.
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