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Tender, crunchy and in season from mid summer to mid autumn. French beans are a versatile vegetable liked by everyone.
French Beans
(phaseolus vulgaris)
Leguminosae
French beans are tender, slender beans with green, rounded pods, 4 to 6 inches (10 to 15 cm) long.
The pods are eaten whole, including the immature seeds, when they are still young, juicy and tender. They have a delicate texture and sweet flavor.
The part eaten are the pods and the seeds. The seeds of the mature pod are knows as flageolets and can be eaten and used as you would do with peas.
French Bean Trivia
French beans are actually native from South America and arrived to the European continent as part of the American food bounty. These beans were already grown by the Incas and later by other Native American.
Left until the pods turn dry and yellow and once dried, they are known as haricot beans.
Although green is the most common and the preferred as a vegetable, the pods come in a variety of colors; other than green, there are speckled purple, purple and yellow –often known as wax beans. The beans can be white, dark brown, light brown, blotched or speckled, and black.
Good source of vitamin C, carotene and a variety of minerals, some fiber but very little protein; low in calories, as most vegetables.
- Help to prevent anemia and diabetes because of their Iron, vitamin C, and vitamin A.
- Help to keep a healthy digestive system because of their fiber content.
They would keep for 1-2 days at room temperature, but, as the rapidly lose vitamin C, they are better stored cold.
- Fridge – Beans will keep 2-3 days - place inside a paper bag or perforated plastic bag.
- Freezer – Frozen beans will keep 1 year. - clean and blanche for 2 minutes, drain and leave to cool. Distribute in portions and put each one into a freezer bag.
- Good for home canning
Boiling and steaming are the preferred methods, and other than these stir-frying or stewing. Boiled or steamed and cold, French beans make excellent salads.
- Trim both ends.
- Eliminate the string on the side, if necessary, by separating the stem and pulling towards the other end. – Early French beans don’t have usually a string, however beans allowed growing for too long or the ones harvested later in the season, might.
- Cook whole in boiling salted water for 8-10 minutes.
Healthy: simple green bean salad, bean and tomato salad, four bean salad with tuna, three bean salad with rocket dressing.
Exotic: spiced French beans, green bean sambal.
Preserved: sweet and sour beans.
French beans - phaseolus vulgaris - a French bean by another name: haricot vert, snap bean, string bean, shell bean, kidney bean.
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