Red Bean Buckwheat Granola

The antidote to heartbreak is beans

I experienced heartbreak for the first time in my late 20s. A year ago, I was set to go to Japan with a boy I had a massive crush on. Instead, in my concussed post-bike-crash state, I found myself heartbroken enough to create an online persona called Bean Supporter as a way to distract myself from the breakup while ensuring I nourished myself properly.*

*Properly is in question, as I started all of this by only eating beans for 30 days (no other foods) as a way to gain bean awareness and prevent the chocolate-cheese binge cycle I had entered myself into for a dopamine hit.

While I’ve never been to Japan, this dish comes inspired by the tastes of Japan that I hope to one day be able to experience. Toasted buckwheat mimics the flavors of soba while improving circulation, regulating blood sugar, boosting the gut microbiome, and providing all amino acids (for all of you who are deeply concerned about complete proteins). Red beans, for their nutty sweetness, are often used to fill mochi and buns with antioxidant- and potassium-rich goodness. And finally, sesame, especially black sesame, for bone, skin, and hair health, packed with calcium, magnesium, and vitamin E.

So thank you to Japan man, for not only reinventing how I thought about myself but for changing the future of granola to cut the water footprint, cost, fat, and allergens of nuts while conserving protein and crunch and increasing fiber.

This granola will relieve your stress, make your hair and skin glow, your bones strong, and maybe even cure your heartbreak. Beans truly can do anything.

Recipe: