Additional information
Packsize | 25/5 LB |
---|
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.
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.
Barley was one of the first crops cultivated by man, and has been used as a food since Biblical times. Today, barley is still considered an excellent source of soluble fiber. With a higher beta-glucan content than oats, barley can be effective in lowering serum cholesterol levels. Barley also contains fiber, protein, carbohydrates and B vitamins. It’s low in fat and has no cholesterol. Although pearled barley is commonly used in soups, barley can be milled into various fractions, producing different cuts, pearls, flours, grits and flakes.
Einkorn, literally meaning “single grain” in German, was first cultivated five to ten thousand years ago. Einkorn is an ancient grain that is not yet commonly known in the western world, but used often in the Mediterranean region and in the mountainous areas of Europe. This grain is slightly finicky, completely delicious, good for you, has a slight yellowish tinge, and smells (and even looks) a little like corn flour. Unlike modern wheat which has a long history of hybridization, einkorn is a “diploid”, containing only two chromosomes unlike the modern cousin, which contains six, making it a “hexaploid”. Einkorn is packed with nutrition. It is a rich source of the beta carotene lutein, a powerful antioxidant. Einkorn has the highest amounts of lutein of any other variety of wheat. Einkorn is also a rich source of tocotrienols and tocopherols, powerful antioxidants and forms of Vitamin E. Compared to modern wheat varieties, einkorn has higher levels of protein, crude fat, phosphorous, and potassium.
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.
Kasha, or buckwheat groats, is native to central Asia and was introduced to Europe by the end of the Middle Ages. Perhaps due to its long history and travel across continents, the term kasha has come to refer to a variety of cereal-type products. In America, the term refers to roasted buckwheat groats, which have a toasty, nutty flavour. In Russia, kasha is used in a broader sense for a variety of cooked grains, including buckwheat, millet and oats. Buckwheat kasha is not a true cereal, since it is not a grass. Its kernels are actually achenes, which are dry fruits similar to the seeds of strawberries. While buckwheat may be known to many, particularly as a flour in pancakes and other specialty items, this month we will focus on kasha, a nutritious and tasty alternative to better-known grains.