Dried mung beans are ground into flour, which is used to make noodles in China and a variety of dishes in India. Navy beans require lengthy, slow cooking. Pinto beans are available dried and precooked in cans. Similarly patterned cranberry beans can be substituted. Dried beans require soaking to rehydrate them.
Red beans are small beans with brownish red skins and a slightly sweet flavor.
They are available dried or precooked in cans. Dried beans require soaking to rehydrate them. A variety of yellow and green pea grown specifically for drying. Whole and split dried field peas are availible packaged in supermarkets and in bulk in health food stores. Field peas do not usually require presoaking before cooking.