Roasted Lupini Beans in the Air fryer

Name: Roasted Lupini Beans in the Air Fryer
Prep time: 5 min
Cook time: 10 min
Total time: 15 min
Ingredients: 1 can (19oz) Lupini beans (rinse and drain); Juice of 1 lime; 1 tsp chili powder; 1 tsp olive oil; Salt and Pepper to taste

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Have you ever heard of lupini beans? No? Let me tell you about them because they’re pretty amazing and you should definitely be cooking with them.

Cooked Lupini Beans with Lime Zest on Top

Lupini (or Lupin) beans are part of the legume family, and are usually pickled and served as a snack food in the Mediterranean. They are especially popular in Egypt, and can even be found in the tombs of Egyptian Pharaohs.

Their texture is less floury and firmer than other legumes, and they have a full range of essential amino acids. But here’s the amazing part – they have twice the amount of protein as chickpeas! For vegetarians and vegans who struggle to get enough protein, these are excellent snacks. You can buy them canned, in a glass jar, or vacuum-sealed. Whichever way you go, make sure you give them a good rinse to rid them of the excess brine.

Ingredients

lupini
chili powder
oil
lime

See the recipe card for quantities.

Instructions

Lupini in a bowl with spices — Lupini beans in a bowl with spices

Place the Lupini in a medium bowl and add the juice of one lime, chili powder, olive oil, and salt, pepper to taste. Mix well to combine everything

Place the Lupini beans in the basket of the air fryer.

Cooked Beans in the Air Fryer — Cooked Lupini Beans in the Air Fryer

Close the air fryer, select 380˚F, and cook for 10 minutes

Mix halfway through cooking (after 5 minutes)

The best way to elevate these to a whole new level is to air fry them. They get light and crunchy. After you’ve rinsed and drained the beans, mix them up with some spices – I use lime and chili powder. You don’t need to add a lot of oil to get these crispy, I use just a tsp for an entire can of lupini beans. Serve them as a snack, or as a topper for soups or salads.

Substitutions

Lupini beans - instead of lupini, you can use can chickpeas, but add 5 minutes to the cooking time.
Chili powder - go wild use the spices that you loved!
Oil - you can live out the oil if you prefer.

Equipment

Air Fryer are small ovens with a highly concentrated heat source and powerful fan that moves the hot air around to crisp up wings, fries, veggies with little (or zero!) oil

Cooking instructions in the Oven

Preheat the oven to 400 ° F.
Pat the lupini’s dry on paper towels. Add to the bowl and stir gently with the spices mixture.
Place the lupini’s on a baking sheet. Bake for 15 minutes stirring gently halfway
Remove from the oven and let cool completely.

Small bowl with an air fryer in the background — Cooked lupini in a small bowl with an air fryer in the background

Storage

Once cooked, these will keep in the refrigerator for up to 5 days. Unfortunately, they don’t freeze, but I usually have a can or two on hand. It’s a great way to kill a snack craving and get a ton of protein all in one shot.

FAQ'S

Are Lupini beans good for you?

A powerhouse of goodness, lupins contain three times more plant protein than quinoa, three times more fiber than oats, three times more antioxidants than berries, three times more potassium than bananas — and three times more iron than kale.

Do you eat the skin of lupini beans?

Lupini beans are commonly sold in a brine in jars (like olives and pickles). They can be eaten by making a small tear in the skin with one's teeth and "popping" the seed directly into one's mouth, but can also be eaten with the skin on.

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