Bean Feast!

Having taken on the mountain of overgrown runner beans from Hawarden I had a happy week playing with the podded beans in my kitchen. They were quite easy to shell out with a twist of the pod which I became adept at!

 

Night 1 – simple beans

Boiled for 25 mins with Northop dill (no salt). Served with s&p and a drizzle of olive oil. Squeeze of lemon would have been nice.

I liked them but husband and son not impressed! They don’t like pulses anyway so not surprising.

 

Night 2 – bean ratatouille

Boiled beans for 30 mins

Cooked onion in oil, added lots chopped garlic then chopped fresh tomatoes with splash of balsamic vinegar, s&p, tom puree, wine, dill.

Added drained beans, covered and simmered gently for 10 mins. Add water/wine if dry.

Delicious! Family picked out the beans, though – they just don’t like beans!!

 

Day 3 – chilli bean soup

Sweated garlic, ground cumin, lemon zest and half a chilli in olive oil for 3 mins

Added beans (500g) and 1/2 ltr stock.

Cooked for 40 mins then pureed with dash of lemon juice, s&p.

Tasty, filling but grey – the beans are a beautiful pink when you shell them but go grey on cooking. Could add turmeric? paprika? to help this. Not tried on family yet!

 

Day 4 – Hummus

BEST OF ALL

Cooked beans (250g) 35 mins – no salt

Pureed with 3 cloves garlic, zest & juice of 1 lemon, nat yogurt (about 2 tblspns), slurp of olive oil, 2 tspns Harissa paste, pepper.

Drizzled olive oil on top after putting in the dish and left in fridge for a day.

Ate on site and all agreed delicious.

Generally good fun experimenting and surprisingly few side effects!!