By Peggy Crum, RD, Health4U Nutritionist
Eating beans on New Year’s Day is a time-honored way in many cultures to bring prosperity to your family. You may be familiar with hoppin’ john, a dish made with black-eyed peas, traditional New Year’s fare in the southern U.S. But did you know that lentils bring in the New Year in Germany, Italy and Brazil and black beans in Japan?
If bigger is better where omens are concerned, we should have it covered with giant white beans. Commonly called butter beans in the U.S. and gigandes in Greece, giant white beans are flat, kidney-shaped beans measuring about an inch in length. When fresh or frozen, they are pale green and referred to as lima beans. They turn pure white when dried. Chef’s recipe calls for canned beans, usually labeled butter beans, but you can substitute cooked dried beans if you prefer. Although not widely available, I found dried giant white beans for $1.95 per pound at a local supermarket. Look for whole beans, not broken or cracked, with smooth white skin.
Giant white beans cook more quickly than you might expect. Soaked beans will simmer to a soft buttery texture in just 45 minutes to an hour. Think of them as gentle giants. Turbulent water, extended cooking time, or any kind of rough treatment will cause them to break apart.
To cook up a batch of giant white beans, start by soaking 1 pound of dried beans in 10 cups of water in a large pot, covered and placed in the refrigerator overnight. After the long soak, drain into a colander. Place beans back in the pot along with 6 cups water and aromatics (onion, garlic, bay leaf, fresh thyme and parsley). Simmer gently for ½ hour, then add a teaspoon of salt and continue with a gentle simmer for 15 minutes more. Let the beans cool in the broth. Strain to use in the recipe. Store cooked beans in the refrigerator for 3 to 5 days or in the freezer for 6 months.
Combine giant white beans with greens as in this month’s recipe for an extra dose of prosperity.
Great White Beans with Greens Recipe
Giant White Beans with Greens will be served for lunch at The Gallery at Snyder/Phillips, Brody Square and Riverwalk Market at Owen Hall on Wednesday, January 25. Join us in the Brody Square demonstration kitchen at 12:10 p.m. on January 25.
Comments
Wow! This is something I should have on my plate. If only I could have this on my country.
Really nice recipie I'm sure I'll be giving this ago. I had something similar on christmas day in South Africa, very tasty!
Bean is a vegetable; rich in protein, good for health and helps loss wight. Everyone loves it for obvious reasons. It is very informative post. Eviction Letter
I don't know how healthy it is, but I love these white beans with ham hocks. You are right, they cook surprisingly quick. Bay leaf, thyme and onion for seasoning with the salt coming from the ham hocks and you are good to go. It is a great meal for a cold day.
I have learned a lot. Thank you.
Yammy salad. Thanks for sharing this great piece of recipe
Green Recipe with white beans are really a delicious recipe...
I never tasted a giant white beans before, I think this is good with beef, what do you think?
Giant white beans are yummy and are also fantastic in salads in summer. They are a great alternative for vegetarians as well. Thanks for the read.
Yes.. I think this is very delicious, but there is no giant white beans in my country.. so.. how i can try it?
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