Additional information
Packsize | 25/5 LB |
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Black Eyed Peas (Vigna Unguiculata) are related to the Mung Bean. These beans are medium sized cream colored beans with a ‘Black Eye’ on the inner curve of the bean. Black Eyed Peas are about 3/8 long and have a sweet, mild pea-like flavor and firm texture. The Black Eyed Pea absorbs the flavors of a dish very well. Also referred to as a Black Eyed bean, Cow Pea, Field Pea, Tonkin Pea, China Pea, Marble Pea, Brown Eyed Pea, Jerusalem Pea, Black Eyed Suzy and Lobhia.This bean is believed to have originated in Eastern Asia. It was brought to the Americas with the African slave trade. Black Eyed Beans were a staple of many plantation diets. Eaten on New Year’s Day, Black Eyed Beans are thought to bring good luck for the following year.
Suggested Use:
This fast cooking legume lends itself to many recipes. It mixes well with a variety of greens, including Okra, Collard and Swiss Chard. Hoppin’ John is a traditional souther recipe using this bean.
Basic Prep:
Soak overnight. Rinse and place in a large pot and cover with fresh water. Bring water to a boil for 3 minutes, reduce heat and simmer, covered, for 30-45 minutes until tender. Do not over stir or the soft skins can be damaged. One cup dry yields 2 cups cooked.
Israeli couscous is also a type of pasta, but consists of granules that are much larger – about the size of small pearls. Made from wheat flour and semolina, Israeli couscous has a ball-like shape and is toasted, rather than dried, after the granules are formed. This process gives Israeli couscous a nuttier flavor and chewy bite that adds an unexpected touch to regional recipes.
Black Barley is also known as Purple Hull-less Barley. Originally from Ethiopia, this variety has not been raised until recently because of the low yield. This is actually the only grain that can go from field to table without being processed, because the gloom or bran layer stays attached to the kernel, and is edible.
Suggested Use:
The shape of this hearty grain resembles a coffee bean and cooks to a glossy purplish-mahagony color. It is wonderful in soups and stuffings or alone as a beautiful alternative to rice (Because of a somewhat chewy texture, it is best mixed with other grains.)
Basic Prep:
Rinse well, add 1 cup of barley to 3 cups of boiling water. Simmer covered 35-40 minutes until liquid is absorbed. For a fluffier grain, soak Barley in water for 5 hours then simmer covered for 15 minutes. One cup dry yields 3-1/2 to 4 cups cooked.
Chana Dal (Pisum Sativum) are small peas which are peeled and cut in half. This type of Legume dates from 6000 BCE and have been found buried with Egyptian mummies. They were brought to India by the Greeks and are now an important staple food in South Asia.
Suggested Use:
When cooked they lose their shape and are excellent for thickening soups and stews. Typically used with curry, they can be seasoned with many different herbs.
Basic Prep:
Rinse 1 cup of dry peas in several changes of cold water, until water runs clear. Cover with unsalted water, bring to boil over medium-high heat, cook for 25-30 minutes until peas are tender but still firm. One cup dry yields 2 cups cooked.
First cultivated in the ancient fields of Babylon, the rustic grain farro is now a central cereal grain for chefs. Del Destino Italian Semi-Pearled Farro is certified USDA organic and has a forgiving, fibrous texture that boasts a complex, nutty taste offering hints of oat and barley. Farro is the ideal alternative to rice in applications like risotto and soups.
Imported Italian Polenta. In the Lombardia region, the Moretti family has been attentively growing corn and making choice polenta since 1922. Carefully selected varieties of corn are air-dried in open barns until hardened. The kernels are carefully stone ground and vacuum-packed to retain the cornmeal’s natural freshness and flavor.