CCFM Market Morsels - July 30, 2018

Cool Beans | July 30, 2018

FRESH & LOCAL: Cool Beans Fresh beans and peas have arrived and these legumes are one of our favorite offerings of summer. At our markets, you’ll find fresh red beans, field peas (aka pink eyed peas, aka purple hull peas, aka pink eye purple hull peas), crowder peas, lima and butter beans and more. Fresh beans are full of fiber, are higher in protein than most other plant foods, and contain a host of vitamins and minerals so they’re good for the body. They are also nitrogen fixing plants which means that in the course of growing them, they increase plant-available nitrogen content in soil, which decreases the need for added fertilizers. So they’re also good for the earth. What can’t they do!? If you’ve only ever had dried or canned beans or peas, fresh ones will open your eyes. The tender creaminess found in a fresh bean is incomparable to anything you revive from dried ones, or pour out of a can after it’s been cooked to death. Not to disparage dried or canned beans! We love dried beans as an affordable and nutritious staple, and canned beans for their convenience on hectic weeknights. This is just a whole different experience of flavor and texture. Unlike dried beans which expand considerably when cooked, fresh beans already have their full moisture content so won’t soak up much moisture and won’t expand considerably. This means you’ll need to adjust your added liquids, and also the quantity of beans you use. Get them fresh now, and throw a few bags in the freezer to enjoy later on. You’ll thank yourself later.