Who can Teach Me All About Beans?

LindyAdele · April 27, 2015

Soo... I never grew up eating beans. I think my parents hated them, so I didn't touch them.No dried beans, no chile, no refried beans, no beans in salads, NOTHING. In university I discovered I loved 'green beans' in various dishes, and they were tasty fresh. I now cook regularly with green beans, and in the summer I have grown bush green beans.

Beyond this, I wouldn't know what to do with other varieties! I have bush beans (Blue Lake, Yellow Wax and Dragon's Tongue) planted in the ground, as well as pole beans (Flamingo, Purple Podded, Jaminez and Rattlesnake) set up in a big box planter with 10 foot twine to the top of a pergola.

What can I do with pole beans? Can I eat them like green beans? Do I shell them? And if so... do you eat beans fresh? Dried and then cooked? I really have no idea about the different beans available or what to do with them!

What bean types should I try next year, and what can I do with them? I love cooking food from around the world, but have always been scared off by beans for their... um... reputation.

Thanks so much to anyone who can give me ideas!

April 27, 2015	#1
LindyAdele Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Apr 2014 Location: Ontario Canada Posts: 323	Who can Teach Me All About Beans? Soo... I never grew up eating beans. I think my parents hated them, so I didn't touch them.No dried beans, no chile, no refried beans, no beans in salads, NOTHING. In university I discovered I loved 'green beans' in various dishes, and they were tasty fresh. I now cook regularly with green beans, and in the summer I have grown bush green beans. Beyond this, I wouldn't know what to do with other varieties! I have bush beans (Blue Lake, Yellow Wax and Dragon's Tongue) planted in the ground, as well as pole beans (Flamingo, Purple Podded, Jaminez and Rattlesnake) set up in a big box planter with 10 foot twine to the top of a pergola. What can I do with pole beans? Can I eat them like green beans? Do I shell them? And if so... do you eat beans fresh? Dried and then cooked? I really have no idea about the different beans available or what to do with them! What bean types should I try next year, and what can I do with them? I love cooking food from around the world, but have always been scared off by beans for their... um... reputation. Thanks so much to anyone who can give me ideas!