Paint Shelling Beans
Inventory, lb : 0
Description/Taste
Paint shelling beans have a pale yellow exterior with distinct markings similar to speckled paint which can vary in color and include hues of dark yellow, light orange and bright pink. Pods are lengthy and contain beans which are creamy colored and also speckled with hues of yellow, orange or pink. When cooked the beans offer a fresh and slightly nutty bean flavor and a meaty texture that becomes increasingly buttery when cooked at length.
Seasons/Availability
Paint shelling beans are available in late summer and early fall.
Current Facts
The Paint bean is a member of the Fabaceae family and botanically a part of Phaseolus vulgaris. Also known as common beans Phaseolus vulgaris includes most pole and bush bean types. Shelling beans such as the Paint bean are utilized for their edible seeds which must be removed from their pods prior to use. For the most part shelling bean crops are harvested when the pods and beans are dried, then shelled and sold as a dried bean. A small portion of fresh shelling beans can be found sold at specialty stores and farmers markets.
Nutritional Value
Paint beans are high in protein and additionally contain potassium, folate, fiber, iron, zinc, thiamin, magnesium and calcium.
Applications
The Paint shelling bean can be used when freshly shelled or when in their dried form. The interior seeds of the inedible bean pod should be removed and cooked prior to consumption. When fresh the beans do not need to be pre-soaked and will cook quicker than when dried. Fresh shelling beans can be steamed, fried, roasted or simmered. Dried beans will benefit from an overnight soak to make them easier to digest. Cooked Paint beans can be added to salads, soups, pasta and gratins. Their flavor is complemented by vinegar, garlic, onion, citrus juice, corn, parsley, chili peppers and pork. In addition to drying fresh Paint bean can also be frozen and saved for future use once shelled from their pods. To store, keep fresh Paint beans dry and refrigerated using within three to four days.
Ethnic/Cultural Info
Along with corn and squash beans were a staple in the diet of people of Mexico and the New World and when paired with corn provided a complete source of protein in a time when meat was hard to come by.
Geography/History
Common beans such as the Paint bean are believed to have their origins in Mesoamerica with evidence of them having been found from the Andes to Argentina. Domestication of the bean is thought to have started in central Mexico around 6,000 BCE. Paint beans are a warm weather crop and will benefit from a long growing season in the summer and early fall months.