Green Beans

Green Beans / Snap Beans / String Beans / French Beans


Green Beans, green, yellow, purple

[Phaseolus vulgaris]

This is the common green bean here in Southern California, available in every market with a produce section. "Green Beans" aren't always green, as you can see from the photo specimens, but green is by far the predominant color. The dark purple ones are fine raw in salads but if you are going to cook them don't pay extra for the color - they come out green. The Yellow Wax Beans do remain yellow, but have a weaker flavor than the green varieties. These beans are native to the Americas, and unknown in the rest of the world until about 1500 CE.

Haricot Verts   [lit. "Green Beans"]   are an effete variety favored in French cuisine, more slender and more tender than the barbaric (but admittedly more robust) American varieties.

Flat Green Beans


Flat Green Beans This form was once fairly common here in Southern California, but I haven't seen them for years now. Perhaps they are more difficult to grow or harvest than the round variety, but, if memory serves me, they tasted pretty much the same. This photo is from 2004 CE.

More on Beans, Peas & Lentils.


Romano Beans


Romano Green Beans, whole and opened [Phaseolus vulgaris]

These beans are quite common in the produce markets here in Southern California and highly favored by some people. They are the same species as the round Green Beans, and also from the Americas, but a variety that first became popular in Italy. California has a strong Italian influence, so these beans became a popular crop here. They are usually 4 to 6 inches long, and occasionally can be found in yellow and purple versions. The photo specimens were above average in size, the largest being 11-1/2 inches long, 1 inch wide and weighing just over 1 ounce. Despite the size they were still quite tender. Be careful not to overcook these beans as they can become mushy.


Dragon Tongue Beans


Dragon Tongue Beans, whole [Phaseolus vulgaris]

This is a variegated bean, similar to the Romano Bean. It often appears at the opening of a new or remodeled supermarket, to show what wonderfully diverse produce they will be providing. Then they disappear, never to be seen again. I have not seen these beans in the produce markets here in Southern California.


Health and Nutrition

Green Beans are low in fat, have a good fiber content, and plenty of antioxidants, including vitamin C, flavonols, quercetin, and kaemferol. Also plenty of A vitamins and vitamin K. Minerals they provide are manganese, calcium, magnesium, phosphorus, potassium and zinc.

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