Produce Briefs...
Maui Onions
Two characteristics set the Maui onion apart from other yellow onions: the high sugar and high moisture content of its flesh.
Rainbow Swiss Chard
Rainbow chard, also known a 5-color silverbeet, is a tender chard variety with multi-colored stalks of yellow, white, orange pink and red.
Grower
Seasons/Availability
Dragon Tongue shelling beans are available late summer.
Current Facts
Many fresh shelling beans are difficult to find due to seasonality and growing regions, unlike dried beans which are readily available. Peas, beans and lentils are referred to as pulses and offer a variety of textures and flavors.
Description/Taste
Dragon tongue shelling beans are encased in a creamy yellow pod with distinct purple streaks and flecks. Each pod is around four to five inches in length. The versatile dragon tongue beans may be used as fresh snap beans when very young and as shelled beans when fully mature. The snap beans take around two months to mature, while the shell beans require an extra month or two to fully develop and dry on the vine. The shelled beans are green with no additional coloring, and develop a savory, almost meaty flavor when cooked.
Applications
Dragon Tongue beans are very versatile, in that they can be eaten in two different forms. Harvested young, prepare just like you would standard green beans, pod and all - blanch, drain well, and toss with herbed butter or a vinaigrette. Beans allowed to mature on the vine become shelling beans, in which the pod is no longer edible. The beans can be boiled and tossed with tomatoes and herbs as a simple summer salad, pureed into a smooth dip akin to hummus, simmered in chicken stock and blended into a savory soup, braised with fresh sweet corn as a ragu, or tossed with pasta or gnocchi as a main dish.
Geography/History
The dragon tongue bean was first raised in the Netherlands, when farmers began to experiment with bean varietals looking for a sweet, waxy bean. The snap beans take around two months to mature, while the shell beans require an extra month or two to fully develop and dry on the vine.
Recipe Ideas
Recipes that include Dragon Tongue Shelling Beans. One
is easiest, three is harder.
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Seasons/Availability
Dragon Tongue shelling beans are available late summer.
Current Facts
Many fresh shelling beans are difficult to find due to seasonality and growing regions, unlike dried beans which are readily available. Peas, beans and lentils are referred to as pulses and offer a variety of textures and flavors.
Description/Taste
Dragon tongue shelling beans are encased in a creamy yellow pod with distinct purple streaks and flecks. Each pod is around four to five inches in length. The versatile dragon tongue beans may be used as fresh snap beans when very young and as shelled beans when fully mature. The snap beans take around two months to mature, while the shell beans require an extra month or two to fully develop and dry on the vine. The shelled beans are green with no additional coloring, and develop a savory, almost meaty flavor when cooked.
Applications
Dragon Tongue beans are very versatile, in that they can be eaten in two different forms. Harvested young, prepare just like you would standard green beans, pod and all - blanch, drain well, and toss with herbed butter or a vinaigrette. Beans allowed to mature on the vine become shelling beans, in which the pod is no longer edible. The beans can be boiled and tossed with tomatoes and herbs as a simple summer salad, pureed into a smooth dip akin to hummus, simmered in chicken stock and blended into a savory soup, braised with fresh sweet corn as a ragu, or tossed with pasta or gnocchi as a main dish.
Geography/History
The dragon tongue bean was first raised in the Netherlands, when farmers began to experiment with bean varietals looking for a sweet, waxy bean. The snap beans take around two months to mature, while the shell beans require an extra month or two to fully develop and dry on the vine.
Recipe Ideas
Recipes that include Dragon Tongue Shelling Beans. One
is easiest, three is harder.
