Beans. Vegetable patriarchs

In Egypt, they were allowed to eat only members of the Royal family, out of respect for the beans died, the ancient Greek mathematician and philosopher Pythagoras, Prince Vladimir beans are considered a strategic culture, and Natalia, ivancevich shares his favorite recipe for cooking beans Provencal.

Remembering merry Bean the king of the same picture of Jordaens or heard the expression "left on the beans", inevitably think beans belong to the misty distant past, irrelevant to the modern world not having. The share of truth in it – but only in the fact that beans, which gave the name to the whole family (and in fact only edible members of the family of legumes there are about ten) – do patriarchs among the vegetables. Historians believe that people began to cultivate beans 10 thousand years ago in Asia Minor.

The ancient Egyptians were afraid of beans, the food consumed was permitted only to members of the Royal family. Black "mourning" speck on a flower; the fruit, resembling the embryo – what else you need to tie life and death, dying and rebirth? It was thought that the bean field is a place where the souls of the dead awaiting reincarnation, and enter into this field, mere mortals did not dare.





The bean king. Jacob Jordaens. 1638 160 x 213 cm
The Bean King. Jordaens, Jacob. The Hermitage, St. Petersburg

Pythagoras, after two decades of learning from the Egyptian priests, borrowed from them, together with secret mystical knowledge and the attitude of the beans. He forbade his disciples to go to the bean field, not to mention to eating them. Legend has it that Pythagoras was killed, pursued by enemies on the edge of a bean field, which he had not dared to cross.

In Ancient Rome, the beans treated easier. The transmigration of souls, the Romans are not fond on the black specks was not paying attention, but the form of the embryo of the fruit have noted, and linked the beans with the cult of fertility. Not without echoes of ancient beliefs, were perceived as the gift of dead alive. This gift had to be valued, namely to boil, simmer, fry, in pods with and without them. Legendary Apici, the one who squandered his vast inheritance to gastronomic delights and killed himself when he realized that the money left him enough to live like a normal wealthy man, resulting in his cookery book with numerous recipes from beans. And Apici knew a lot about food!

A real delicacy is the beans as the milk stage: tender, green beans. They can be eaten raw.In the Middle ages the relationship of beans with fertility flowed smoothly into the symbolism of prosperity and welfare, and the beans took an active part in wedding ceremonies and voting procedures (white beans/black beans).

In Russia , the beans are appreciated as much as in Europe. For example, among other things, mentioned in the Chronicles about the construction of Prince Vladimir storage for beans. In those days, everywhere, and for quite a long time, dry beans as the main element of the strategic reserve of the country – in the event of crop failure, famine, wars and natural disasters. Because Mature beans possess two very important properties: they have a long shelf life and contain a large number of proteins, and therefore are very nutritious.




Dairy blanched beans.

How to cook beans

But came the sixteenth century, Columbus and his followers brought from the New world potatoes and beans, which are gradually but inexorably replaced with fields and tables of the Europeans, turnips and beans, a new culture and prepared faster and easier and has provided more diversity.

However, the beans never completely disappeared from our gardens, and in recent times, this interesting and deserved a vegetable is experiencing a real Renaissance.

A real delicacy is the beans as the milk stage: tender, green beans.

They can be eaten raw.

You can hold 3 to 4 minutes in boiling water and add to the salad.

You can cook them into a soup or add to stews – beans everywhere will show their special delicate taste.



In any dish young beans will show their special delicate taste.

100 gr. young fresh beans contains only 35 calories – this despite the fact that beans are rich in fiber, vitamin C, proteins and carbohydrates, have antispasmodic and sedative effect.

But in dry beans calories, almost 10 (!) once more – 345 kcal per 100 g and digested meals from dry beans is much more difficult.

By the way, if you want a dish of fresh beans did not irritate even the most delicate stomach – take with grains of the overlying film. With blanched beans, this film is removed easily, almost by itself, and if you want to clean raw – will have to spend a bit more time. But the result is worth it!



To a dish of fresh beans did not irritate the stomach – take with grains of the overlying film.

And finally – my favorite recipe.

Beans Provencal

1. Grain young beans blanch in boiling water for 5 – 7 minutes.

2. Lightly fry chopped onions, add peppers (diced), tomatoes (without skin and seeds), finely chopped garlic.

3. Simmer over low heat until soft approx 10 minutes.

4. Add beans, salt, pepper, a pinch of Provencal herbs.

5. To extinguish all together for another 15 – 20 minutes.published



Beans Provencal.

Natalia ivankevich curator and vegetable program LavkaLavka

P. S. And remember, only by changing their consumption — together we change the world! ©

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Source: lavkagazeta.com/eda/boby-ovoshchnye-patriarhi