{"id":48030,"date":"2023-02-09T14:20:38","date_gmt":"2023-02-09T14:20:38","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/simplysouperlicious.com\/?p=48030"},"modified":"2023-02-18T12:51:43","modified_gmt":"2023-02-18T12:51:43","slug":"know-your-beans","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/simplysouperlicious.com\/know-your-beans\/","title":{"rendered":"Do You Know Your Beans?"},"content":{"rendered":"

It is understandable that anything small, round (like pea shape or similar) and edible, can be called a \u2018bean\u2019. But there is more to beans than you may know, so let\u2019s cut to the chase and discern what is a bean, and what is actually \u2018a legume\u2019.<\/p>\n

The first certified records for the existence of beans in the human diet was back in 6750 B.C by Egyptian sources, but many food historians believe that they go even further back. These beans (and legumes) have not altered much in any way \u2013 size, colour, texture and most of all flavour. The good old beans stewing in the pot when hunter-gatherer came home, are virtually the same as they are now!<\/p>\n

So, let\u2019s crack the doubt and reveal what is a bean<\/a> and what is a legume, their similarities and their differences. An important fact to remember, however, is that both beans and legumes are very healthy additions to your diet. At the end of the day, it really doesn\u2019t matter – including them in your food regime does. Put simply (I hope!)<\/p>\n

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Beans<\/strong> are the produce or \u2018seeds\u2019 that grow inside a plant of many different varieties.<\/p>\n

Legumes <\/strong>are the plants that bear the fruit contained within pods. So technically, they are, of course, exactly the same family with the legume being the plant \u2018host\u2019 to the \u2018fruit\u2019 inside, the beans.<\/p>\n

Got it? I hope so, it can be confusing to say the least. You may be thinking, \u2018let\u2019s just eat beans\/legumes, who cares!<\/p>\n

Beans varieties as we know them<\/strong><\/p>\n

The most common beans likely to adorn your soups, casseroles and other dishes and readily available in supermarkets, dried or canned, are:<\/p>\n