People have been growing the humble bean for a very long time — and eating them for even longer.
Cultivated beans have been found in the tombs of ancient Greeks and Egyptians. Domesticated fava beans (Vicia faba) were found in what is now northern Israel and were carbon-dated to about 10,000 years ago. Favas (not a true bean, but a legume) were a major staple of the Mediterranean diet and widely grown, even before grains.
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The common bean (Phaseolus vulgaris) is native to the Americas, where it was a staple of the indigenous people of Mesoamerica and the Andes. This vining plant with twisted pods and small seeds is the mother of almost all modern beans — snap beans, soup beans, dry beans, and shell beans — and can still be found growing wild in parts of Mexico.
medium.com/...
Beans are nutrient-dense … and delicious! Not to mention versatile. Let’s start with these old American favorites~
Boston Baked Beans
The baked beans we enjoy today are a direct descendent from an English bean-and-bacon pottage dish originally from the middle ages. 17th century Puritans favored a dish that they could set to cook on Saturday and consume on Sunday, saving them from labor on the Sabbath. The ingredient that separates Boston Baked Beans from all others – molasses – probably entered the mix in the mid-18th century, as Boston’s centrality to the triangular trade grew.
www.paulreverehouse.org/....
Recipe is in the YouTube description. (NB: You can make these in a dutch oven.) [11:52]
Next we travel to Turkey~
Bean Kofte
Kofta is a type of "meatball" that originates from the Middle East and India. The word kofta comes from the Persian word kūfta, which means "to beat or to grind," which references the ground meat typically used to make kofta recipes.
www.rumispice.com/....
This is a vegetarian version. Recipe is in the YouTube description. [6:53]
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And on to India~
Rajma Masala (Punjabi Red Kidney Bean Curry)
Masterclass on making the authentic Punjabi style red kidney bean curry, a popular dish in Punjabi households. In this recipe, I will tell you the traditional method of cooking the kidney beans to achieve maximum flavour and guide you through making the tomato-based sauce using aromatic spices. Feel free to adjust the spices to your preference.
chetnamakan.co.uk/...
Recipe. [13:09]
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Thence to Spain~
Alubias Garrafón (Spanish Butter Beans [Lima Beans])
The beauty of this dish is the texture of the butter beans (which are also known as lima beans). They have the most incredble creamy texture with a melt-in-your-mouth interior.
spainonafork.com/...
Recipe. [7:25]
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Italy’s next~
Pasta with Chickpeas
This one-pot Pasta with Chickpeas dish is one of my favorites. This style of dish is perfect for a simple but delicious meal and can be incredibly versatile, as you can choose from many pasta, vegetable, protein, and sauce combinations. It’s also the right way to make a one-pot dish so I’m excited to share it with you.
www.vincenzosplate.com/...
Recipe. [15:02]
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And finally back to the U.S.~
Green Beans au Gratin
This classic green bean au gratin recipe is one of my favorites. It's perfect next to your holiday ham or turkey, this casserole has a creamy, rich cheese sauce that enhances but doesn't cover up the green beans, so they are still the star of the show.
www.allrecipes.com/...
Recipe. [7:45]
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So c’mon in the café and grab a cuppa...
...and a nice nosh…
...and join us!
New Day Café is an open thread. What do you want to talk about today?