Black (Turtle) Bean

[Two_Sheds]

Black Bean Stew

serves 4-6
9oz black turtle beans, soaked overnight then simmered for an hour
1 large onion diced
4 garlic cloves, crushed
3 chillies, finely chopped
2 tbsp oil
1oz butter
1 lb sweet potatoes, cubed
8oz turnips, cubed
2 carrots ,cubed
1 red pepper, cubed
1 can chopped tomatoes
2 handfuls chopped coriander and parsley

fry onion, garlic and chilli in oil and butter until soft. Add a third of the beans to pan and mash it all up a bit. Add vegetables and simmer 25 mins or so until the veg is soft. Add remaining black beans and herbs. Mix everything together until heated through, and serve. With jacket spuds if you're greedy

[wellie]

Good on'yer Girl....
I have a lovely Denis Cotter Chilli Recipe that I use with these beans, and because they literally 'soak up' the flavours...... oooh, I can't begin to tell you how good it is.....!
X

[deezyb]

hi - this sounds lovely...but can these beans be bought in the supermarkets easily or is it a specialist type? sorry but not really heard of it but recipe sounds fab!

[wellie]

They're certainly available from good health food shops, because that's where I buy them from.

[Two_Sheds]

Bean, Bacon & Sausage Stew

Bean, Bacon & Sausage Stew

serves 4

(soak dried beans overnight in cold water, or 1 hr in hot boiled water. Then boil rapidly for 10 mins before simmering for 45 mins until softened)
75g/3oz dried black turtle beans
75g/3oz dried borlotti / kidney beans
75g/3oz dried cannellini / haricot beans

8 rashers smoked bacon, sliced into lardons
2 tbsp olive oil
4 garlic cloves, peeled and chopped
2 x 400g tins of chopped tomatoes
1.2 litres/2 pints chicken stock
225g/8oz cabbage (preferably green, such as Savoy), thinly sliced
300g/11oz sausages, sliced into 5mm/¼in thick pieces
2 tsp chopped fresh thyme
1 tbsp chopped fresh parsley
salt and freshly ground black pepper


1. Gently fry the bacon in the olive oil in a flame proof casserole on a medium high heat for a few minutes until golden-brown.
2. Add the garlic and cook for a few seconds, then add the tomatoes and the stock and simmer for ten minutes.
3. Add the drained beans, cabbage and sausage and cook for a further 5-10 minutes.
4. Add the chopped herbs. Season to taste with salt and freshly ground black pepper.

by Rachel Allen

[Flummery]

Have you tried growing them Two Sheds?

[Two_Sheds]

Well, Cherokee Trail of Tears is like a little tiny black turtle bean. Not sure if that counts? I will try and germinate some shop-bought Black Beans if I get a chance this year.

[shirlthegirl43]

I have just put a handful of black turtle beans from the supermarket on damp kitchen towel to see if they sprout.

[Flummery]

I have some Cherokee from the HSL - I also have a dwarf french called negritos which has the little black seeds - not so shiny and tactile (I'm off - smack me hand!) as Cherokee trail of tears though. Keep us posted on your shop beans experiment won't you?

[Lizzy]

Thanks all for the above recipes. I have grown these beans in the past, bought the seeds off Ebay a couple of years ago.

If you would like to try some, let me know, I will have some to spare, not many, but some to get you strarted.