US (IL): Beans exploding in rainbow of colours at markets
You probably don't know beans like Chad Nichols knows beans, especially the dragon beans and cranberry beans or the ones he calls purple magic beans that were piled up at the Nichols Farm & Orchard stand at the Division Street Farmers Market this past weekend.
While the family grows 12 types of beans — fresh, shelling and dried — at their farm in Marengo, there were eight available at the farmers market: green, yellow, two skinny young beans (a haricot vert and a haricot in deep purple), purple magic beans (plumper than the haricot), dragon beans (purple-speckled yellow beans), cranberry beans (pale yellow beans speckled with pink) and edamame. Expect the purples to turn green when cooked, says Nichols. The skinny young beans will be slightly sweeter than grown up versions. And cranberry beans and edamame need to be shelled to be eaten.
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"We'll have fresh beans for at least about a month," he says, "and then the dried beans will be coming in. after that."
So enjoy the fresh beans now, lightly cooking a mix of green, yellow and purples then tossing with some cherry tomatoes, fresh herbs and a favourite vinaigrette.
Source: chicagotribune
