There are many varieties of beans.
The term bean (or bean , with an accent on the I ) refers to what in some countries is known as bean , bean , bean or bean . All these terms allow us to refer to a herbaceous plant and its fruit and seed .
The scientific name of the bean is Phaselous vulgaris . It is important to clarify, however, that there are varieties of this species , which means there are different types of beans.
Bean characteristics
The bean is an annual plant that is part of the Papilionaceae family group. It has weak stems that can be up to four meters long, with large leaves, whitish flowers and fruits in pods that contain several seeds.
This vegetable is native to the region known as Mesoamerica , which includes El Salvador , Honduras , Guatemala and Mexico . Its development requires a warm climate.
Its importance in nutrition
Human beings began eating beans thousands of years before Christ. In fact, beans are mentioned among the oldest foods.
Aboriginal peoples of the American continent were the first to include it in their diet . Since the European expeditions to America , the plant reached the Old Continent and thus its seeds also began to be consumed in other regions.
On a nutritional level, beans stand out for having a high content of minerals , fiber and protein . A peculiarity is that raffinose causes those who eat beans to tend to have flatulence (that is, intestinal gases that come out through the anus).
The bean pod, known as green beans or chaucha, is also consumed.
Bean varieties
We said that there are varieties of beans. The black bean is one of them, which is used in the gastronomy of countries such as Cuba , Mexico and Brazil .
White beans , meanwhile, are a common food for members of the US Navy. Another variety frequently consumed in different areas is the pinto bean .
Typical dishes and recipes
Feijoada is a traditional Brazilian dish that has beans as its star ingredient. Black beans are usually used, accompanied by pork, rice and other ingredients. In Portugal, feijoada is also prepared, although with red or white beans.
In Mexico and Central America , refried beans are a very popular side dish. To make it, you must boil the beans and then fry them in butter or oil while grinding them so that they become a kind of puree . Refried beans are eaten with tacos and tortillas; In Honduras , they are part of the baleada , being the filling of a wheat flour tortilla.
Gallopinto (rice with beans) and fabada (beans, pork and sausages) are other delicacies that include beans in their recipe .
The bean pod
It is interesting to mention that the bean pod is also eaten. The elongated, tender shell that contains the seeds is called a pod.
In Mexico , Honduras and Guatemala , this pod is called green beans . In nations such as Uruguay , Paraguay and Argentina , meanwhile, it is known as chaucha .